Art / Bristol Photo Festival
Bristol Photo Festival 2021 – James Barnor: Ghanaian Modernist
Showing alongside Island Life: A portrait of Britain, Beyond the Frame and Lips Touched with Blood at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, James Barnor: Ghanaian Modernist is a look back at the work of Ghana’s first international press photographer.
The exhibitions are part of Bristol Photo Festival‘s 2021 festival, which launched its first exhibitions in May.
Working during the time of Ghana’s independence in 1957, Barnor came to the UK in 1959, before returning to returning to Ghana, where he established X23, the Accra’s first colour photography studio. He came back to the UK in the 1990s.
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This retrospective exhibition takes a look at Barnor’s work, which focuses on modernism and pan-African futurism.
His photography is a document of post-war modernity, spanning from the time of Ghana’s independence to scenes of multicultural London, and later images recording a strong postcolonial identity in Ghana.
Model posing for Agip 1 Calendar, Accra, c. 1974-1975 © James Barnor Courtesy of Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière
“His work is full of joy: from studio portraits taken outside his Ever Young studio, using an array of idiosyncratic props, to friends getting together for a drive, to a beach party held for Drum, the pioneering magazine for African readers,” says Julia Carver, who curated the exhibition.
“It was a sheer delight to work with James’ photographs. James was always happy to talk about his work, he is very gregarious, you can tell that in interviews with him and you can see it in the photographs. I’m thrilled that James has had renewed success, albeit late in life.”
While the photographer returned to the UK from Ghana in the 1990s, it was only in the 2000s that he shared his archive with Renee Mussai at Autograph Black Photographers Association.
The photos he radiates modernity, the modern history he has recorded as well as also the style, the people, the clothes and the cars.
Model playing drums: Constance Mulondo, Drum cover, at London University Weekend with the band The Millionaires. London, 1967 © James Barnor Courtesy of Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière
James Barnor: Ghanaian Modernist uses the archived photos Barnor shared. The exhibition, which opened on May 18, will run until October 31.
“I hope people take pleasure from this exhibition,” says Julia. “The pleasure with which James lives life, his charm and openness.
“But also, this is a record of key moments in our recent history. The multi-culturalism of Britain. This is an important record for us today. Above all the spectacle of James’s wonderful images, in black and white and in colour.”
Bristol24/7 is Bristol Photo Festival’s local media partner. This article is part of a series looking at the festival’s summer exhibitions.
Main photo: Members of the Tunbridge Wells Overseas Club, relaxing after a hot Summer Sunday walk, Kent, c. 1969 © James Barnor Courtesy of Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière
Read more: Bristol Photo Festival 2021 – Island Life: A Portrait of Britain
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