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Catalog Data

Photograph by:
Platon, British, born 1968  Search this
Subject of:
Unidentified Woman or Women  Search this
Nabintu Bigosi  Search this
Nvunanwa Zirimwaga  Search this
Maison Dorcas, Congolese  Search this
Panzi Hospital, Congolese, founded 1999  Search this
Medium:
pigment on paper
Dimensions:
H x W (image): 15 1/4 × 21 1/2 in. (38.7 × 54.6 cm)
H x W (sheet): 20 × 24 in. (50.8 × 61 cm)
Type:
pigment prints
portraits
Place printed:
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place captured:
Bukavu, Sud-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa
Date:
2016; printed 2019
Description:
A color photograph of the Maison Dorcas Women’s Singing Group, by Platon. The photograph depicts a group of women joyfully singing against a blue sky background. There are twelve visible, or partially visible, women in the photograph standing in two rows. Most of the women appear to be singing and several have their hands raised above their heads. There are seven women standing in the first row, in the foreground. The woman on the far left is wearing a red daishiki tunic top with gold embellishments at the neckline, a matching long skirt and red headscarf her hair. Both of her hands are raised in the air, she has a happy expression on her face, and her mouth is open as if singing. The woman to her right is wearing a yellow, long sleeve blouse and a pink and yellow ankle length, Ankara fabric skirt with a repeating diamond and plaid pattern. Her proper right hand is raised, her chin is lifted, and she is looking upwards and towards the left. She has a happy expression on her face and her mouth is open as if singing. To the right of her is a woman standing with her arms at her sides. She is smiling and looking upwards. She is wearing a light gray and white, short sleeve shirt and a gold and white, ankle length, Ankara fabric skirt with a repeating black and blue stripe and swirl pattern. Just left of center is a woman standing with her hands at her sides and smiling slightly as she looks upwards. She is wearing a blue, white, yellow, and green Ankara fabric dress with a rectangular patchwork pattern and a primarily blue and white headscarf. Just right of center is a woman standing with her hands resting on the side of her thighs. She is wearing a green ankle length Ankara fabric dress with a blue snake pattern with a primarily gold and black headscarf. She is looking up and Her mouth is open as if singing. To the right is Nvunanwa Zirimwaga, wearing a red Ankara fabric dress with a yellow, black, and gold concentric circular patterns overlaid with and pattern of gold bead strands. Zirimwaga is also wearing a green and pink headscarf, a white rosary, and a black crochet pouch around her neck. She is facing the viewer, her eyes are partially closed, and her mouth is open is if singing. On the far right is the seventh woman, Nabintu Bigosi. Bigosi is wearing a black Ankara fabric dress with a large white flower pattern and a brown and white head scarf. Her hands are held palms up at chest level, her head is turned towards her proper right shoulder, her eyes are closed, and her mouth is open as if singing. The women are standing on walkway paved with white, roughly circular stones. Behind them is a dark blue sky with large white clouds. The photograph has a thick white border. The edition number, [5/12], is printed in the bottom left corner. The photographer’s signature and date, [Platon 19], is handwritten in the bottom right corner. Inside the border, at the bottom center, is the photographer’s embossed mark: [PLATON ? / EDITIONED ? / PRINT ?[encircled between two bands of embossed dots]]. The back of the photograph is plain and white.
Topic:
African American  Search this
Activism  Search this
Catholicism  Search this
Health  Search this
Humanitarianism  Search this
Mental health  Search this
Music  Search this
Photography  Search this
Singers (Musicians)  Search this
Violence  Search this
Women  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Platon
Object number:
2021.33.72
Restrictions & Rights:
© Platon
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification:
Photographs and Still Images
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5521df626-6f95-4b00-9306-ccd67042aef4
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2021.33.72