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Tiwani Contemporary opens Andrew Esiebo: Pride

Tiwani Contemporary in London opens Andrew Esiebo: Pride a photographs exhibition on view 10 January – 8 February 2014.

Andrew Esiebo, Nuances, Accra No.7 (2012).
Andrew Esiebo, Nuances, Accra No.7 (2012).
Pride is an exhibition by Nigerian photographer Andrew Esiebo on barbershops across 8 West African cities (Lagos, Cotonou, Accra, Abidjan, Monrovia, Bamako, Dakar and Nouakchott). The selection includes images that have never been exhibited and is Esiebo’s first solo exhibition in London.

Pride is a photographic investigation of the relationship between hairstyles as well as individual and collective identities. The exhibition positions four bodies of work as interlocutors to explore lapses in current narratives about African males.

Urban Aesthetics (2012) explores the exterior landscapes of the barbershops, which ‘marry the rhythms and soul of the street,’ through hand painted shop signs with shiny colours, utensils and diverse male hair cuts. Nuances (2012) is a collection of similar symbols and iconography of global culture found within the interiors; The Barbers (2012) captures the men in their work environments and Style (2012) is a focus on social identity through hair styles in relation to their African and global blackness.

Andrew Esiebo, was born in Lagos, Nigeria and is a member of the Lagos’ collective Black Box. His practice focuses on new creative territory and integrating multimedia practice with the investigations of themes such as sexuality, gender politics, popular culture, migration, religion and spirituality. Recent exhibitions include ‘Before: Nigeria’ Musee du Quai Branly, Paris, France (2013); ‘Made in China’, Institute Francias Mauritania, Nouakchott, Mauritania (2013); ‘Na Go. Aesthetics of African Charismatic Power’ Padova, Italy (2012); and ‘The Progress of Love’ of Contemporary Art, Lagos, Nigeria (2012). His work has featured in biennials and festivals including the Biennale Cuvee, Linz, Austria (2013); Photo Quai Biennial in Paris, France (2011); Sao Paulo Biennials, Brazil (2010); Lagos Photo Festival (2010); the Chobi Mela V Photo Festival in Bangladesh (2009); African Photography Encounters in Mali (2009); the Guangzhou Triennial in Beijing, China (2008); and the Noorderlitch Photo Festival in Netherlands (2007).