“I always looked at art as a medium to express the unspeakable reality of our imagination. Where I found myself understanding my feelings more after creating. And while taking documentary photos in Almere and later on Amsterdam to understand why I found myself focusing on those of the African diaspora. This drive came from the necessary feeling to see more people that look like me, but in a more nuanced way where our day to day activities come to shine. To show that there is not only struggle but a multitude of feelings, thoughts and events that occur in those little gaps in between. My work has grown into an archive of our collective efforts to joy, peace, hope and community.
I did not want to treat my own people as a mere subject as seen in portraits out of colonial times and within that the exploitation of the black body. But for them to feel like we are all part of a big family photobook like the one I have at home.
This programme has been co-curated by Neglected, a community dedicated to underrepresented movements across music, art, and fashion, with its roots in urban culture in the Netherlands.
Neglected creates space for artists, creatives, and designers through a platform that brings together exhibitions, pop-ups, and cultural programming. By spotlighting talent, culture, and movements that are often overlooked by the mainstream, Neglected aims to amplify alternative voices and celebrate the communities shaping contemporary urban culture.
