Africans Documenting Africa
Ghanaian artists Nyani Quarmyne and Nii Obodai sought to transform stereotypes using photography in their documentary project, “Africa by Africans,” which is included in a series of art exhibitions on display in Manchester, England until September 16. Concerned with conventional, Western views of our continent, these talented artists wished to capture “conscious images” that stimulate the mind and challenge our assumptions. Mr. Quarmyne recounts, “I tried to create images that look someone in the eye and through the connection that’s created — experience for a moment what they’re going through,” he said. “I was trying to humanize, to personalize, to individualize, rather than get away from the big picture, the common stereotypes that I see.” His photos, complemented by Mr. Obodai’s poems and “meditations on what it means to be Ghanaian,” have resulted in a powerful display of the intersection between African art and culture. Check out the full article and additional photos in the NY Times: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/africans-documenting-africa/
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