FRANCE-EXHIBITION/GHANAIAN PHOTOGRAPHER Prolific works by Ghanaian photographer, James Barnor go on exhibit in France

Record ID: 130743

  • Title: FRANCE-EXHIBITION/GHANAIAN PHOTOGRAPHER Prolific works by Ghanaian photographer, James Barnor go on exhibit in France
  • Date: 5th November 2015
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) ART GALLERIST AND PUBLISHER, CLEMENTINE DE LA FERONNIERE, SAYING: "And in fact he was looking for something which truly echoed the typical photographic studio in Africa, that is to say that he learned photography on glass plates, you had to touch-up the glass plates so that the person photographed looked younger, appeared really perfect. So it was really in the spirit of immortalising people through photography in the youngest way possible." PHOTOGRAPHS "A MODEL DURING A PARTY ORGANISED BY DRUM, ACCRA, CHORKOR BEACH, 1950S" AND "MR. BLAVO AND HIS FRIENDS DURING A PARTY ORGANISED BY THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CLUB PARTY, SCOUT GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, ACCRA, 1953"
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5XWHIWQD9SY5XBAQC4N7H9A12
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The works of James Barnor, considered a pioneer of Ghanaian photography, are on display at the "Ever Young" exhibition in Paris, France.
    Bearing the same name as his studio in the 1950s in Accra, the "Ever Young" exhibition creates a narrative of two societies in transition through Barnor's photographs.
    From theatrical portraiture and parties on the beach to Ghana's first President, Kwame Nkrumah kicking a football, the first section retraces Ghana's move towards independence from Britain.
    With a different approach to classic African studio portraits, Barnor's photographs depict a culturally, politically and economically vibrant period in Ghana's history.
    Art gallerist and publisher, Clementine de la Feronniere, describes Barnor as a witness of this remarkable era.
    "There's the studio section where we can see Ghanaian life and we really realise that people at the time were full of hope, of a foolhardy dynamism and really wanted to do lots of things and it was indeed a prosperous period. There's the whole political section, the gaining of Ghana's independence was planned. So there was almost ten years of preparation of which he witnessed," she said.
    Independence was declared in 1957 and the Convention People's Party (CPP) led by Nkrumah came to power, making Ghana the first black African nation to claim independence from British colonial rule.
    Barnor was able to capture some of Ghana's most emblematic figures such as Nkrumah attending a concert with CPP members and Gold Coast champion boxer aka "the black flash", Roy Ankrah eating corn flakes with his family.
    "And in fact he was looking for something which truly echoed the typical photographic studio in Africa, that is to say that he learned photography on glass plates, you had to touch-up the glass plates so that the person photographed looked younger, appeared really perfect. So it was really in the spirit of immortalising people through photography in the youngest way possible," she said.
    Barnor was the first photojournalist to work with the Daily Graphic, a newspaper brought to Ghana by the British media group, the Daily Mirror and he was also regularly commissioned by Drum magazine, South Africa's influential anti-apartheid journal for lifestyle and politics.
    In 1959, Barnor moved to London which was growing into a cosmopolitan, multicultural metropolis where he discovered colour photography and began to train while still shooting for Drum magazine.
    He captured the mood of the "swinging sixties" and the African diaspora's experiences in the city as well as photographing a multinational cohort of aspiring models and Drum cover girls.
    Ten years after moving to London, Barnor returned to Ghana where he established the first colour photography studio.
    Sarah Preston, who initiated the production of the collection book "Ever Young", Barnor's first book said that it was a revelation when she discovered his work.
    "In 2011, when Paris Photo invited Africa, I noticed the work of James Barnor at the stand of the Baudoin Lebon gallery. And it is true that it is the kind of work which stood out from the other African works we are used to seeing in France in particular, which are more studio photos, posed, black and white, quite classic. And James' work was in colour, it was everyday life in Accra, so, well, it called out to me," she said.
    Barnor gave himself the nickname of "Lucky Jim" to reflect the chances and opportunities he encountered throughout his career of sixty years.
    Preston said that Barnor's undeniable interest in culture and people were the elements that made him into such a prolific artist.
    "So if you like, he was a privileged witness but only because he was there at the right time and he knew how to seize opportunities. I don't think he was completely aware of it at the time but because he is someone very curious, very open and who constantly wants to try new things, learn new things, eventually he knew how to be there at the right time," she said.
    At the age of 86, James Barnor is now retired and lives in London.
    The "Ever Young" exhibition will be on display at the Clementine de la Feronniere Gallery in Paris until November 21st.
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