Addoley Dzegede

My current interests lie in the interconnected, transcontinental history of textiles and decorative objects that are strongly identified with Africa but have origins in parts of Europe and Asia. I aim to challenge the notion of authenticity, as a further look into history shows a trail of adaptations, adoptions, mimicry, and manufacturing that often gave rise to what various cultures consider to be their traditional wear. I create textile works using screen printing, dyeing, and batik processes as a means for conveying nuanced messages that question ideas of authenticity and speak to histories ranging from hyperlocal to global, recent to distant, while merging personal and collective histories.