Archer Gallery

Am I Not a Man and a Brother?

Am I Not a Woman and a Sister?

Curated by James Harris, and with generous loans from his gallery, local collectors, and Erdmann Contemporary of Cape Town South Africa, Archer Gallery is pleased to present a small group photography show of artists from Africa whose works explore the issues of identity, culture, and religion. The artists selected for the exhibition specifically use the camera to document themselves. They have each become the subject and the photographer, the performer and the director. The photographs often become a transmitter of information expressing concerns about race, sex, and class. In additional works the artists use their personal experiences to shed light on the social injustices of historical and contemporary events. The photographs incorporate a performative nature in which the artist’s body becomes the narrator, exposing the dark side of social reality and public conscience. The exhibition hopes to provide a deeper insight into humanity by raising awareness of the barriers that exist within the African continent. Artists featured in this exhibition are Adeola Olagunju, Abraham Oghobase, Nomusa Makhubu, Hasan and Husain Essop, and Mohau Modisakeng.

Am I not a Man and a Brother? Am I not a Woman and a Sister? is a historic slogan for the fight for freedom and equal rights among all mankind. The slogan “Am I not a Man and a Brother?” was coined by Josiah Wedgwood the famous potter and abolitionist who manufactured ceramic wares to promote the eradication of slavery. The American female abolitionist writer Elizabeth Margaret Chandler added “Am I not a Woman and a Sister?” This exhibition and its theme are culturally significant, and aim to bring awareness to global issues of race and identity.

Additional works by artists Jodi Bieber, Kudzanai Chiurai, Frank Marshall, Ebony Patterson, Lindeka Gloria Qampi, Nontsikelelo “Lolo” Veleko, and Saya Woolfaulk fill the remaining gallery space. These artists continue to explore themes of identity through the use of costume, disguise, and the art of self-presentation.

Exhibit: January 6 - February 7, 2015