At the last 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair at the gallery What If The World from Cape Town, the artist Lakin Ogunbanwo showed his piece "Let It Be" part of a series of photography exploring the notion of identity, looking at the individual within a cultural collective.
The artwork makes us question our own identity in relation to the attire we wear, depending on where we are, at what point in our lives and how we connect with others through attire and within that, the codes and signals they project.
The artworks below are powerful and bold, the stillness amplifies the message almost seeming like a photographic painting.
The gallery shared the following text that relays what lies behind Lakin Ogunbanwo's artwork:
The artwork makes us question our own identity in relation to the attire we wear, depending on where we are, at what point in our lives and how we connect with others through attire and within that, the codes and signals they project.
The artworks below are powerful and bold, the stillness amplifies the message almost seeming like a photographic painting.
The gallery shared the following text that relays what lies behind Lakin Ogunbanwo's artwork:
Lakin Ogunbanwo’s ongoing series of enigmatic portraits explore identity and what it is that defines an individual within a larger cultural collective; who they are and how they wish to be perceived. He has pared down the communicative aspect of the project to the power of the hat – ‘that witty but vital accessory in fashion’ – to speak of masculine identity within the context of Lagos.
Ogunbanwo’s project began in 2012 when he first became interested in the traditional dress of ethnic groups in Nigeria: the Yoruba, Ibo, the Hausa-Fulani and others. Attire is a very clear indicator of ethnic identity in Nigeria and Ogunbanwo has observed the younger generation creating sartorial hybrids of western and traditional style thus reinventing the visual codes through which they publicly communicated aspects of themselves. In Ogunbanwo’s signature style of elegant minimalism, the aesthetic focus in this series is on light, texture, shape and silhouette.
Ogunbanwo’s project began in 2012 when he first became interested in the traditional dress of ethnic groups in Nigeria: the Yoruba, Ibo, the Hausa-Fulani and others. Attire is a very clear indicator of ethnic identity in Nigeria and Ogunbanwo has observed the younger generation creating sartorial hybrids of western and traditional style thus reinventing the visual codes through which they publicly communicated aspects of themselves. In Ogunbanwo’s signature style of elegant minimalism, the aesthetic focus in this series is on light, texture, shape and silhouette.
Let it Be, 2016 by Lakin Ogunbanwo courtesy of the artist and What If The World gallery
Not so Sorry, 2016 by Lakin Okunbango Courtesy of the artist and What If The World Gallery
Are You Lying 2016 by Lakin Okunbango Courtesy of the artist and What If The World Gallery
Watch Out 2016 by Lakin Okunbango Courtesy of the artist and What If The World Gallery
Twist Of Fate 2015 by Lakin Okunbango Courtesy of the artist and What If The World Gallery
All Will Be Well 2015 by Lakin Okunbango Courtesy of the artist and What If The World Gallery
I Miss You 2015 by Lakin Okunbango Courtesy of the artist and What If The World Gallery
Artwork by Lakin Okunbango Courtesy of the artist and What If The World Gallery
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