Bling

Inspired by glimmering diamonds, the word “bling” is a hip-hop slang term for large gem-encrusted jewelry. These glitzy accessories symbolize extravagant material wealth, much like the luxurious objects in traditional portraiture. In an interview, Kehinde Wiley discusses the connection between bling, street fashion, and traditional ornament: “With the work that I’m doing now, I am interested in history as it relates to ‘bling bling.’ In places like Harlem, people ornament their bodies, love Gucci and Versace, baggy jeans, bubble jackets, hoodies…I’m interested in architectural ornament, certain types of French Rococo facade ornaments, for instance, that end up as faux décor in shopping malls…In my own work, history is questioned. Would this ornament belong to something like, say, a Versace jacket or is it really Baroque? So the question of appropriation comes into play…History becomes a plaything.”