Brisons Veor- Sankofa Symbol

"The Sankofa represents the importance of learning from the past." 

- The National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Sankofa symbol is an important symbol to African-Americans.  It comes from the twi language and means to go back and fetch it.  Sankofa is often associated with the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi," which translates as: "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten."  It seems to me it also relates to the Cornish idea of reclaiming the Cornish language and identity.

I have worked with the Sankofa symbol before.  But after I started drawing the swallows I started thinking about it again.  Here are some sketches of mine playing with the Sankofa symbol 

I cleaned it up and used some tracing paper to make it symmetrical.

Then I carved in into a linoleum block.  This first one is relating to the bird form.

This 2nd one I want to take the traditional symbol and make it interlock showing the connecting between the past and the present.  My friend Sarah says this makes it look more Celtic.  It wasn't the intention but that's ok

I’m trying to use the local colors but in the prints they feel a bit 70s. 

This design feels a bit Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish to me.

I love how this piece turned out.