Nikia Parker
Communication Designer
& Fine Artist
Systemic Determinants of Your Smile
Physical Installation, Video, Projection
The Concept
The Process
I began ideating in the Spring of 2024 with an entirely different vision. At the time, I knew that the root of the concept had to do with bringing to light the inequities Black Americans face concerning their dental well-being. The form of this concept, however, was still uncertain.
Initially, I approached the solution with the idea of transparency. The goal was to promote vulnerability about these struggles, from accessing healthcare to the outcome of a lack of healthcare, as a means of fostering unity and empathy. I intended to present this through a projection, a journal, and a bowl of candy.
The projection was to be a video that contextualized the project overall with a call to action toward the two other elements. In this video, I would have confessed how my teeth were shattered. Following an exam at 13 years old, I mindlessly ate candy only to hear an anxiety-inducing crunch. It was my tooth, not the candy.
The journal would have been an opportunity to collect responses from viewers about their own experiences while giving them a piece of candy in return. In this environment with the given context, a piece of candy would be a conflicting reminder to some. It would be an acknowledgment of the hypothetical consequences informed by my own story.
Although this approach was of interest to me, I found that I wanted the form of my project to be expansive beyond the experience of just me and those who would feel comfortable sharing their stories during the exhibition.
The Solution
The three goals of Systemic Determinants of Your Smile manifest via video context, an artistic piece, and curated resources. The video, seen above, sets the bones of the work by talking about Social Determinants of Health and the historical influences of contemporary Black Americans’ systemic disadvantages. The medical table is adorned with medical paper that has three layers of information. The first, in red marker, indicates tools someone may use if they do not have access to adequate dental care. The second, in black marker, are instructions. Lastly, the background in pen is an amalgamation of symptoms, physical and circumstantial, that could contribute to needing these tools and instructions. The medical table and video were accompanied by a QR code linking to multiple local organizations that advocate for equitable dental care, have resources for accessing care, or provide opportunities to advocate for change.