Tag: women photograph

  • Exhibition: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair

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    ‘The Fortress, 2014’ by Kiluanji Kia Henda (Angola) – 1-54 Courtyard Sculpture Commission
    ‘The Purple Shall Govern, 2019’ by Mary Sibande (South Africa) as part of her solo exhibition I Came Apart at the Seams
    ‘Turn, turn, turn, 2019’ by Mary Sibande (South Africa) as part of her solo exhibition I Came Apart at the Seams
    ‘History Papers, 2019’ by Adeunmi Gbadebo (USA)
    Detail of ‘History Papers, 2019’ by Adeunmi Gbadebo (USA) – a mix of cotton, indigo dye and human hair.
    Close-up detail of ‘History Papers, 2019’ by Adeunmi Gbadebo (USA) – a mix of cotton, indigo dye and human hair.
    Quilted portraits of African-Americans by Bisa Butler (USA)
    ‘Macho Nne: The Honeycomb, 2019’ by Cyrus Kabiru (Kenya)
    ‘It’s My Time & There Has To Be Another Way, 2019’ by Evans Mwangi (Kenya)
    From the series Interwoven by Kyle Meyer (USA)
    Circle Art Gallery from Kenya
    ‘Failed Coup, 2019’ by Shabu Mwangi (Kenya)
    Art on the wall ‘Dexu Adüna, 2019’ is by Alexis Peskine (France) and the bike installation ‘MBK100, 2018’ is by Romuald Hazoumè (Benin)
    ‘Carriage Clock, 2019’ by Yinka Shonibare, CBE (UK)
    ‘The American Library Collections (Philanthropists), 2019’ by Yinka Shonibare, CBE (UK)
    ‘Tightrope: Noiseless 14, 2019’ by Elias Sime (Ethiopia)
    Detail of ‘Tightrope: Noiseless 14, 2019’ by Elias Sime (Ethiopia)
    I saw Noma’s bag by Kenyan artist Michael Soi and I just had to take a picture.
    Photographs in lightboxes by Michel Papami Kameni (Cameroon)
    ‘Untitled (boxes), 2018’ by Gareth Nyandoro (Zimbabwe)
    Detail of inside ‘Untitled (boxes), 2018’ by Gareth Nyandoro (Zimbabwe)
    Detail of inside ‘Untitled (boxes), 2018’ by Gareth Nyandoro (Zimbabwe)
    ‘Speed Demon 1, 2, 3 & 4, 2019’ by Boris Nzebo (Gabon)
    On the wall is ‘Fatherhood’ by Prince Gyasi (Ghana) and the sculptures are by Alimi Adewale (Nigeria)
    This is me checking out Mxolisi Dolla Sapeta (South Africa) artist’s studio in South Africa using Virtual Reality (VR)
    ‘Golden Horde 5, 2006’ by Hew Locke (Scotland)
    Close-up detail of ‘Golden Horde 5, 2006’ by Hew Locke (Scotland)
    ‘L’écume de la mer, 2019’ by Louisa Marajo
    Detail of ‘L’écume de la mer, 2019’ by Louisa Marajo (Martinique)
    A sculpture by Jake Michael Singer (South Africa)
    Photographs from the exhibition Water Life by Aïda Muluneh (Ethiopia)
    Pop-up exhibition storefront for Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)
    Signage of the pop-up exhibition for Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)
    ‘Marche HLM, 2013’ as part of Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)
    Top ‘Les Femme Paying Respect to Mame Diarra Bousso, 2015’ and bottom ‘Baye Fall Alamadies, 2014’ as part of Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)
    ‘Sokhna Khady Ba, 2014’ as part of Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)
    Curator of Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA), Atim Annette Oton, speaking to my friend Wasi
    Somerset House Seaman’s Hall at dusk
    ‘Baga Nimba (Gold), 2019’ by Niyi Olagunju (Nigeria)
    ‘Green button Qarboush, 2019’ by Qarm Qart (Egypt)
    Triptych of ‘The Urban Mask, 2019’ by Kagiso Patrick Mautloa (South Africa)
    Guests mingling
    With Aude Konan a writer and filmmaker from Ivory Coast
    With legendary photographers Joy Gregory (UK) and Sunil Gupta (India)
    With Arlene Wandera a sculptor from Kenya.
    With artists Celine_A (France) and Evans Mbugua (Kenya)
    Somerset House courtyard at night

    It was an early start for me as I RSVP’d to be at the Press Preview breakfast and launch of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. The previous day it was raining heavily on and off and I was hoping that the weather would stay nice and calm. Luckily the sun came out to play and the morning air was crisp, but it was cold. And it is Black History Month!

    This is the seventh edition of the fair which is held at Somerset House with 45 galleries from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America showcasing contemporary African art from all over the world with 15 of those galleries showcasing for the first time.

    This year, the 1-54 Courtyard Sculpture Commission is The Fortress by Angolan artist Kiluanji Kia Henda and for South African Mary Sibande, a first major solo UK exhibition of her photographic and sculptural works I Came Apart at the Seams which will continue on after the fair has ended until 5th January 2020. Another solo exhibition that will continue on after the fair until 20th October is an Afrofuturist tableaux Water Life by Ethiopian photographer and artist, Aïda Muluneh with a further nine solo exhibitions by various artists being displayed during the fair.

    For me, this year 1-54 was an amazing experience as it was a long day of looking at artwork, networking and taking pictures. I even managed to squeeze in a visit to a pop-up hosted by Mak Gallery of a photography exhibition Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn which ends on the same day on Sunday 6th October as 1-54. So, if you are in the area, please go and check it out. The address is 62 Church Street, London, NW8 8ET – nearest station is Edgware Road.

    I went back to Somerset House for the evening event of drinks and more networking then I decided to call it a night.

    Please give yourself plenty of time to walk through the fair’s space if you do decide to go, as there is so much to see judging from the ‘few’ photographs I have shared. And there are also screenings and talks happening as well, which are free to ticket holders, but you will need to book as spaces can be limited.

    If you are reading this before the 06th of October and are in London, please go and see it. I highly recommend it.
    Tickets are £25.00 for Day Ticket/ £10.00 concessions. Children under 12 go free.  Friday is FREE for students with student ID.

    The exhibition has ended.

    #ContemporaryAfricanArt

     

     

     

  • One of My Favourite Quotes

    Honestly, I didn’t know what I should blog about this week. So, I will keep it simple and share with you one of my favourite quotes by The Minimalists.

    Love people and use things, because the opposite never works.

    What is your favourite quote?

  • Event: Start Up Step Up London Launch

     

     

     

    Earlier this week, I was invited to attend an early morning event to launch a new business program at City Hall called Start Up Step Up London. It is a program that is part of the London Growth Hub and is supported by the Mayor of London, hence it being launched at City Hall.

    I bet you are wondering as a photographer, why am I attending such an event to do with business if I wasn’t there to take pictures? And the answer is pretty simple – networking.

    In the summer, around July, I attend a workshop on ‘Start Your Own Business’ run by Visionnaires. It was a 4-day workshop held at The College of Haringey Enfield and North East London (CONEL) at their Tottenham campus. The best part of this workshop other than the information I gathered in those four days is that it was FREE. Who doesn’t like free stuff especially if they are there to help you grow? Not me!

    By attending this workshop, I was introduced to Pablo Lloyd OBE, the CEO and co-founder of Visionnaires and the person who ran the workshop. Also on the first and last day, we were joined by Robert who runs a business consulting firm, DDR Learning. Also, during one of the workshop sessions, Pablo invited a guest speaker, David Barker, the UK’s first internet entrepreneur in 1994 to give us his life story in business.

    I am telling you all this not only to let you know that I am really working on making my brand/business as a photographer work but also to give you an idea as to how I got invited to the launch event I mentioned above. It was through the connections I built by attending the workshop.

    The premise of the programme is to help individuals who want to go into business in the hope of becoming self-employed and successful in business by giving training, workshops, a mentor or coach and space to get started or continue to grow. As a creative, I know only too well the challenges I have had just getting my photography business up and running and I believe initiatives like this are the way forward.

    I tried to see if I could get a video that was shown at the launch for Start Up Step Up London, but I wasn’t successful. I might include it here at a later date once it is shared online. In the meantime, please check this one out where Paulo talks about how and why he started Visionnaires.

     

    I wasn’t there to take pictures during the event as I just wanted to be in the moment. In the end, I only managed to capture one of myself on the balcony with Tower Bridge in the background and a video showing the beautiful skyline of London on a nice sunny autumn day and another video of the space where the event took place.

    As I was leaving, I got to speak to one of the security guys whilst I was waiting for my lift. I told him how amazing I thought the building is and he went on to tell me its green credentials as part of the legacy of the Mayor of London with recycled water being used for flushing the toilets and solar panels, which are part of the design of the building, that generate electricity used in there. And then, my lift came and I bid him a good day.

    If you want to find out more about Start Up Step Up London, please click here and all the best in starting your own business.

    #StartUpStepUpLondon

  • Exhibition: Get Up, Stand Up Now

    Multigraph 023 (Larry Achiampong) by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard
    Exhibition Entrance via West Wing of Somerset House
    Colourful corridor
    Floor detail of corridor
    ‘Whenever I Hang’ – Poem by Grace Nichols
    Exhibition visitor looking at a glass cabinet display of artefacts collected over the years by Zak Ové’s father, Horace Ové
    ‘Icepick, 2002’ by Satch Hoyt with audio of hair being combed by wooden, plastic and metal Afro picks
    Listen boxes were dotted around the space with various music spanning 50 years. This one was playing ‘Empire Road (1978)’ by Matumbi
    ‘James Baldwin, 1983’ by Horace Ové
    ‘Warm Broad Glow, 2005’ by Glenn Ligon
    ‘Hair Relaxer, 2007-2008’ by David Hammons
    Warning sign at the entrance to one of the rooms.
    ‘The Enigma of Arrival in 4 Sections. Section 1: Guess Who is Coming to Dinner, 2017’ by Cosmo Whyte
    Detail of ‘The Enigma of Arrival in 4 Sections. Section 1: Guess Who is Coming to Dinner, 2017’ by Cosmo Whyte
    ‘Shrine to Wisdom, 2019’ by Victor Ekpuk
    Detail of ‘Shrine to Wisdom, 2019’ by Victor Ekpuk
    Metal sculpture in the space – ‘Shrine to Wisdom, 2019’ by Victor Ekpuk
    Detail of ‘Shrine to Wisdom, 2019’ by Victor Ekpuk
    Detail of ‘Shrine to Wisdom, 2019’ by Victor Ekpuk
    Grace Wales Bonner’s friends Dennis Okwera and Wilson Oryema photographed by Lord Snowdon in her second collection Malik
    ‘Woke, 2016’ by Sanford Biggers
    ‘Michelle Barnase – Soul II Soul Jacket, 1989 and Jazzie’s Groove Cane, 1990’ by Jazzie B
    ‘A Great Day in Hip-Hop, Harlem, New York, 1998’ by Gordon Parks
    ‘The Barber’s Chair and Clippers, 2017’ by Faisal Abdu’allah
    ‘Umbilical Progenitor, 2018’ by Zak Ové
    Detail of ‘Umbilical Progenitor, 2018’ by Zak Ové
    Do not touch the artwork – detail of ‘Umbilical Progenitor, 2018’ by Zak Ové
    T-shirt on sale at the exhibition store – this one made me chuckle.

    I almost didn’t go to this exhibition. I had a pretty intense migraine for a few days and the last thing I needed was a ton of information being introduced to my already hurting head. If it wasn’t for my friends insisting, I would have easily stayed at home regretting my decision.

    So, I gave myself a pep talk that morning and made my way to Somerset House where it was being held. I took a ten-minute stroll from Holborn Station convincing myself that I needed the fresh air and it was worth it. As I approached Somerset House from The Strand, on the facade was Multigraph 023 of artist Larry Achiampong that was shot by fellow artist and filmmakers Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard. Seeing this I knew I was in for a treat. Ok, truth be told, I didn’t know what to expect.

    Side note: I loved what Larry said when he showed his mum his portrait on the facade of Somerset House.

    “Waited a while to show mum this image (shot by @iainandjane 🙏🏿) which is at the front of @somersethouse via Strand.
    We cried
    We talked about the cleaning jobs we did in the area years ago
    We hugged
    Mum talked about legacy, about the importance of (the kids and others) seeing black faces in this way….. about coming to this country with nothing, but now feeling like she’d gained something”

    The skies were grey and the fountains at the courtyard were on. It was hard not to miss the entrance to the exhibition which was colourful against the grey exterior of the building. As soon as I made my way in, I purchased my ticket and had it scanned. The lady at the entrance handed it back to me and said start from the left side of the space and immediately I was hit by a very colourful corridor that made me stop in my tracks. Very Instagrammable and memorable. I could tell that the exhibition curator Zak Ové wanted the visitors to be left with a lasting impression from the get-go. How could you miss all that colour and pomp?

    From poetry, photographs, sculptures, fabrics, music, video, film, etc., anything you can think of that can be exhibited in an art exhibition was there. Zak Ové did an amazing job curating this show. A glimpse on Black creativity spanning over 50 years. I have just a few shared photographs I managed to take whilst in the space and they don’t do the experience justice.

    Also, I honestly thought the exhibition would be in the whole of Somerset House, but it was only on the West Wing of the building. I was low-key disappointed, but all that disappointment faded as there was plenty to see. Everywhere you looked you were drawn to what was being displayed. The experience was definitely multi-sensory. From the floors to the windows, even the skirting boards were carefully curated and thought out to bring the colourful nature of black art and creativity. The whole space was just a sculpture on its own. I loved it.

    The poem ‘Wherever They Hang’ by Grace Nichols and ‘Before’ by Selena Nwulu are my favourites. This coming from a person who hardly reads poetry. As an immigrant, they just resonated with me.

    Despite my migraine, I experienced Get Out, Stand Up Now for hours that I didn’t even notice the time pass by. I am glad that I did see it before it ended and that I bought the catalogue from the show.

    If you are reading this before the 15th of September and are in London, please go and see it. I highly recommend it.
    Tickets are £12.50 for adults / £9.50 concessions. Children under 12 go free.

    The exhibition has ended now!

    #GetUpStandUpNow

     

  • Personal: My Top 3 Resources as a Photography Student

    It is that time of the year again – back to school season.

    My little ones went back this week and if you do not know already, I am still at University. I will be going back towards the end of this month to start the second and final year of my MA in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism.

    I want to share with you my top 3 resources that have helped me in my journey as a photographer even before I became a student and now moving forward as I try to build my brand as a photographer beyond the confines of an institution. So here goes!

    #1: Libraries 

    The Library at the university campus is really well stocked with books, magazines, journals and media like CDs and DVDs. If I want to do any research for a project I am working on, that is the first place I would go to for the resources I require. When I am working towards a deadline, I would rather stay in the library to get my work done than at home. One good thing is that once the term progresses, the library is open 24hrs. This has really helped me avoid carrying books home and instead, I stay in the library until I get most of the work done by accessing any research material that I require off the shelves.

    And, I will still have access even after I graduate as alumni.

    For anything Africa related, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Library is a really good resource. At the moment I have access via SCONUL which is a scheme that gives students and academics the use of libraries at other universities other than their own.

    If you are not a student, you can access several libraries across London to do your research. A few libraries that I can recommend for photographers are the British Library, The National Art Library located at The V&A and Stuart Hall Library as these libraries are much better resourced as compared to your local council library which is still a good place to start. All libraries are free to access, but you will have to check their websites for opening times and details of how to access some of their catalogue of resources.

    #2: Museums / Galleries

    Visiting museums and galleries is always a good idea. I find looking at historical and contemporary artwork a good way of stimulating my way of how I see things and visualise how I would do it if it was my project. I try as much as possible to see not only photography related work but also sculpture, paintings, installations etc. when I visit these places.

    This year alone I have visited Somerset House during Photo London, V&A Museum of Childhood with my kids over summer, Tate Modern, British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, to name a few.

    As the saying goes,

    Variety is the spice of life.

    Also, this is one way to exercise physically and mentally whilst at the same time try as much as possible to involve my kids.

    #3: Websites and Social Media

    This one is kind of an obvious one. Photographic websites and social media platforms are my go-to places for inspiration. When it comes to social media, Instagram is my preferred choice to see what others are doing in terms of their creativity and you can also engage with people if you like their work. It is a really nifty way of networking with other creatives from around the world.

    With regards to websites, once I see or hear of a photographer I like, I go to their website to see more of their work. Most times you will find work they haven’t shared on their social media or you find they have even shared more details to particular a project.

    Anyway, here are a few photography related websites for you to check out and be inspired:

    Everyday Africa

    American Suburb X

    BJP (British Journal of Photography)

    Lens Culture

    Fotoroom

    Women Photograph

    And there you have it, my top 3 resources for photography as a student.

    Do you have any websites that are photography related that I should check out? Please share by leaving a comment with a link.

    #BacktoSchoolSeason

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