At first blush, this massive black canvas appears abstract. But tangled in the brightly colored thread are delicate renderings of women. Rejecting notions about how females are expected to view their bodies and sexualities, Ghada Amer boldly embraces sensuality in her textile canvases. Borrowing from magazines like Hustler and Playboy, she portrays women in erotic poses through meticulous application of needlework, a medium traditionally associated with women’s crafts. In this way, unlike the original photographs, Amer’s process celebrates a woman’s sexuality as a point of empowerment rather than objectification.

Much like the artwork itself, the title of The Big Black Bang – RFGA contains various layers. “RFGA” is an acronym that combines Ghada Amer’s name with that of her collaborator, artist Reza Farkondeh. In this case, Farkondeh’s contribution of the black tones in the background is also highlighted by the title choice.