“The camera never lies” used to be a popular adage. But in more recent years, what was once assumed to be fact is being questioned 鈥 especially in the wake of AI and deepfakes. It’s become essential to engage in critical thinking when looking at a picture. We must ask ourselves: who is in the frame, who is taking their picture and why? Can photography represent a society if marginalised communities are consistently left out?听 Here, we bring you UK photography exhibitions which place women and ethnic minority groups at the heart of the artwork 鈥 reframing the focus of photography to fill in gaps in visual representation.
Doyle Wham, London听
Aisha Seriki’s (b.1998) photography uses optical illusions and tricks to question the camera鈥檚 historic association with truth and time, seeking to challenge colonial understandings of the black body and its traditional depictions in images. She uses bronze combs, an image closely tied with the African diaspora, to examine the moment that an item becomes more than functional, instead acting as a cultural symbol of empowerment, ritual and self-care. The title is taken from the Yoruba Metaphysical concept of “Ori” which refers to one鈥檚 spiritual destiny. The work encourages viewers to consider how historical contexts and external perceptions can warp the connection between mind and spirit.听
Horniman Museum, London | Until 28 November
鈥淎dolescence is a crucial time when identities are being challenged鈥here is so much to learn from the process of accepting the self, and this constant and persistent search by our young people of 鈥榟ow to be鈥 in this world鈥. Naomi Hobson (b. 1979) was first drawn to photography after she began documenting her clan members working on their traditional lands in Cape York, Queensland, Australia. Now, a series of vibrant, full-coloured portraits taken against black and white backgrounds elevates the voices of young people in her community, encouraging them to tell their own stories. Her work, showcased outside of Australia for the first time, explores the beauty and humour of the First Nations young people.
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Autograph, London听| Ongoing
In a new outdoor exhibition, Autograph are asking what it means to see and be seen. Renowned for creating spaces where the stories of marginalised people are valued and cared for, the gallery鈥檚 newest collection addresses the gaps in the visual representation of Britain鈥檚 cultural history and its diverse communities. The collection includes photographs of the Windrush generation and the Rock Against Racism movement of the 1970, as well as works from pioneering artists like Joy Gregory, Sad Shelton and Anthony Lam. Uniquely, the gallery has worked with six London schools to turn the exhibition into a learning resource, supporting students and young people to recognise their own agency.
Image Credits:
1. Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Nothing to Lose I, 1989. From the series听Bodies of Experience.
2. M贸nica de Miranda,听Whistle for the Wind听from the series听The Island, 2021.
3. Aisha Seriki: Or铆 In煤听6, 2024.
