In order to get a deeper understanding of the project and to look at it from a different perspective we also discussed with the Founder and Director of the African Artists’ Foundation (and PhotoVogue long time contributor) Azu Nwagbogu, who wrote the publication’s foreword.
These photographers have a transformative impact in redefining the intersection of photography, art, and society. Can you provide examples of how this impact is evident in the works featured in Reflecting B(l)ack?
At the intersection, the ligand between society and art is the medium of photography. It connects and balances the way we understand contemporary life. You only need to look at the volume to see how these photographers capture the very essence of your brilliant question. You take your pick, Athi-Patra Ruga, Imraan Christian, Mary Sibande, Carlos Idun-Tawiah, Hassan Hajjaj, and Mous Lamrabat, each and every photographer in this volume, through their work demonstrates the transformative import of the image. Mary for example, through performative gestures and self-portraiture engages with the history of women in Apartheid South Africa and how the change of the Born Free generation is creating a new way to engage with South Africa. Hassan has been working for decades collecting and creating artefacts that embody his beloved Marrakech through portraiture. They all dissolve the borders between the ideas of photography, art, fashion and society to create narratives that bring us closer to the truth of an evolving youthful continent.
In what ways does Reflecting B(l)ack aim to challenge or redefine prevailing narratives about Africa?
The answer is within the idea Reflecting Back, the ‘L’ in Black is floating. That is to say, it’s more of a way we reflect amongst ourselves as Africans, people of colour, with a history of colonisation and disenfranchisement. How we come together to shape a new identity and narrative for Africa and our various diasporas.
The concept of a black aesthetic has evolved over time. Considering also your experience as Founder and Director of the African Artists’ Foundation, how these photographers in Reflecting B(l)ack contribute to the ongoing evolution of the black aesthetic?
In physics, and photography is an aspect of physics, within the visible scale, Black is the absorption of all the wavelengths of light. I personally don’t see Black as an othering but rather a coming together of all styles, aesthetics and cultures. My work has always advocated for an inclusive visual language that embraces and that defines a sensibility that is rooted in compassion and an acceptance of our rich heritage. In contemporary visual culture, the concept of a Black aesthetic has indeed evolved. These photographers challenge traditional notions of the Black aesthetic by presenting multifaceted and nuanced portrayals of Black identity and experience with work that is just as multifaceted and nuanced. They restitute traditional forms, styles, and identities and redefine a visual language rooted in ancient forms. Rather than adhering to narrow stereotypes or prescribed narratives, they offer a rich tapestry of images that reflect the complexity and diversity within their communities. And through their works, whether through digital manipulation, mixed-media collage, or experimental printing processes, they demonstrate the fluidity and adaptability of artistic expression within the black experience.
The launch of ‘Reflecting B(l)ack’ took place at The Manor’s REKAOFELA pop-up experience at 44 Stanley on the 8th of March 2024, alongside Kasi Flavour10 and Blessing Rooi.