Black is Beautiful photography show and monograph

12:29

untitled-kwame-brathwaite-black-women-in-convertible.jpg

Photographer Kwame Brathwaite is best known for his images of black superstars in the 1970s (Muhammad Ali training for the Rumble in the Jungle, the Jackson 5 on their first tour in Africa, Bob Marley at home in Kingston). A new exhibition highlights earlier work from his archives and positions him as an influential figure in a burgeoning movement. The now 81-year-old has his first book coming out in May after a six decade career: Kwame Brathwaite: Black is Beautiful.

nomsa-brath-modeling-congolese-fabrics-sterns-department-store-1963-kwame-brathwaite-photo.png

Brathwaite co-organized a fashion show in Harlem that became iconic. Naturally ‘62: The Original African Coiffure and Fashion Extravaganza Designed to Restore Our Racial Pride and Standards used the slogan “Black is Beautiful,” later to be a major part of history. His imagery and ideals elevated the slogan to part of the zeitgeist. Artsy has a beautiful slideshow of the Grandassa models and this:

The participants, known as the Grandassa models, were not professionals in the fashion world, which reinforced Brathwaite’s political and artistic vision. They were dark-skinned and their hair was unprocessed; they wore African-inspired garments full of lush colors, waxed cotton prints, and elaborate patterns.

sikolo-brathwaite-portrait-ajass-1968-by-kwame-brathwaite.jpg

The FT has a great piece with more context on Kwame’s history and work.

kwame-brathwaite-self-portrait-ajass-1964.png

Black is Beautiful: The Photography of Kwame Brathwaite opens April 11 at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles.

Tags: history   photography

from kottke.org http://bit.ly/2X4cqJf
via IFTTT

Share this

Related Posts

Previous
Next Post »