Heather Agyepong: Wish You Were Here

Intriguing exhibition at the Centre for British Photography of a series of photographs by Heather Agyepong.

This was a commission by the Hyman Collection from 2019 to respond to early twentieth century postcard imagery reflecting the Cake-Walk dance craze in Europe. It focuses on Aida Overton Walker, the celebrated African American vaudeville performer who was known as the Queen of the Cake-Walk a dance craze that was originally performed by enslaved people who mocked and mimicked the slaveholders and high society.

Agyepong uses herself as the model for Overton and these pictures were shown in a large format in the exhibition but were also available to view in the shop in the size of the postcards they mimic. I  loved  the way they told a serious story and the issues it raised with beauty and humour.

As you might have realised, I like a show that leaves me more to find out so I'm off to Google Aida and I want to see more work by Agyepong. I'm a sucker for someone who uses the past to illuminate the present.

Closes 23 April 2023

 

 

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