jim naughten's costume and conflict

i feel like i've been slacking majorly on going to photography exhibitions recently, which is a shame as they tend to provide me with the most inspiration for my own work. jim naughten's costume and conflict at london's margaret street gallery is one i'm definitely a little upset to be missing. i've noticed nothing but great reviews all over social media sites, and i have to admit, i cursed everything when i realised i probably won't get a chance to see it in person.

costume and conflict is a series of striking portraits based around a tribe called the herero, based in the southern african nation of namibia. think beautiful outfits from the victorian era with the backdrop of the vast and expansive african desert and you're definitely along the right lines. i have to admit, i was surprised that the thing that struck me the most about these portraits were the intense expressions of the subjects. the significance of these outfits harks back to the time of colonization in namibia (around the 1800s), with the herero tribe embracing the clothing and culture of german missionaries who came to settle on their land.

These portraits are not intended to serve as a conventional documentary of Herero culture. They do not capture the subject in a snapshot of everyday life nor with objects typical of routine or social station. Subjects are removed from their home and intentionally suspended in a confrontational posture. As such, their identity as Herero tribe members is reified in their garments and their gaze, a colour and vibrancy brought into acute focus by the contrasting setting. 

the exhibtion sadly ends on the 13th of this month (this saturday!) so i would definitely advise going and checking it out on my behalf (or yours) - my only consolation is that a book on the series has been released which will take pride of place on my bookshelf very soon. jim naughten's interview with image source is also worth a look, if only to get an insight into the painstaking work that can go into commissions such as these.

all images by jim naughten

Culture: The Portico Library, Manchester

I have to apologise for lack of blogging. There have been many occasions where I've thought, "I'll have to write about this when I get back", but it's never really happened for some reason. To make up for this, I'm going to post about the various cool places I've had the pleasure of visiting over the past few weeks.

First up is this hidden gem in Manchester city centre, the beautiful Portico Library. When I say hidden gem, I really mean it. Located on Mosley Street, just a few minutes walk away from the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly Gardens, it's the perfect place to take a break and admire the large collection of 19th Century literature. The Grade 2 listed building is striking in its Greek revival style architecture and beautifully designed interior. As I found out after I had visited, the Portico Library has a members only collection, but they also host various cultural events for the general public so it's well worth checking out.

The Portico Library is one of those buildings that needs to be seen in the flesh to be truly appreciated - the sense of history and yesteryear hits you as soon as you walk in. Described as "the most refined little building in Manchester," I'd be hard pressed to find anyone who would disagree.

For more information, check out their website, twitter and Eventbrite page.

Jordi Huisman - Rear Window

I stumbled across Dutch photographer Jordi Huisman's work by accident - as much as I often complain about Tumblr, one thing it does do well is provide photographers with the opportunity for their work to be seen by thousands with one simple "reblog". One image in particular caught my eye while browsing my timeline - a photo of what appeared to be the back of an apartment block at night; the main light sources were the lights inside individual flats. Something about its simplicity struck me. A quick google search led me to his website, where it turns out he has an ongoing series of images of a similar theme, entitled "Rear Window".

"The Rear Window series focuses on the back of buildings in European capitals. It shows how someone decided to put a large satellite dish on his balcony, where the next door neighbour uses the balcony as a storage room… The series also has a voyeuristic aspect: through detailed exposures, small details in the houses of the neighbours become visible. Details that aren't meant to be visible."

The medium and large format images somehow struck a chord with me. It's true that the majority of the time, we will never get to see the back of buildings, houses in particular. I know for a fact that at my parents' house, much more TLC is given to the front lawn as "more people will see it". The back garden currently lies in a state of mild disarray (our enthusiasm for sorting out the weeds lasts for half a day at the most) while the front looks immaculate. From a social point, is it a case of keeping up appearances? Either way, it's great to be given a chance to see the "details that aren't meant to be visible".

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Photography collective No Culture Icons are teaming up with the independent Village Bookstore in Leeds to host their first photo exhibition on Thursday 7th February (6pm-9pm). Work by Jordi will be exhibited alongside Alex Cretey Systermans, Bryan Schutmaat and Alex Catt, with an evening of music & drink on offer. I haven't had the pleasure of visiting Village yet, but from the comments I've seen on twitter, this will definitely be worth going to if you're a Northerner with a passing interest in contemporary photography. 

For more information, visit No Culture Icons online or Village's Facebook Event.

Photo diary: Accra.

For the first time in 7 years, I returned to Ghana's capital, Accra, to spend time with relatives over the festive period. Admittedly, I was initially thrown by the 36 degree heat, the mosquitoes and the weird nausea that comes straight after taking anti-malarial tablets, but my brief stay provided me with many hearty laughs and a new perspective on the rapidly developing nation. It was great not to feel the physical distance that separates me from the rest of my relatives 99% of the time, and it was inspiring to see the changes that are taking place everyday.

I found myself so busy at points that I often forgot to document everything I experienced properly... but the way I see it, it only meant that I was completely immersed in everything. Sometimes I feel a camera can be a barrier between actively participating and being an observer.

Quick portrait of my auntie Frances. 

My cousin, Sena, in Osu. Osu is home to lots of restaurants, shops & tourists.

I saw a lot of 'Remove Now' signs painted onto buildings.

Engagement party before the big wedding the day after. Lots of acclimatising.

I went to a wedding, and it was beautiful!

Grounds of the beautiful Movenpick Hotel

Hair salon in Awudome

Final walk around North Kaneshie. I love the colours here.

A parting view of Accra from the air. Looks beautiful, doesn't it?