Reflection 2022

Cornelius Annor's painting, "Reflection," is made with acrylic on canvas. Annor employs a flat, graphic style, reminiscent of commercial art. The woman's dress, with its bold, repeating patterns, draws attention to the textile industry and its impact on global trade and local economies in Ghana. The inclusion of photographs suggests a narrative about memory, identity, and social context. We might think about the labor involved in photography itself – the work of capturing, developing, and preserving images – as parallel to the labor of painting. The painting prompts us to consider how materials and images circulate within a globalized world, and how artists negotiate issues of labor, production, and cultural identity in their work. Ultimately, "Reflection" blurs the boundaries between representation and reality, prompting us to reflect on the social forces that shape our lives.