The artists
Africa is often been told as the same old and negative »single story«, states Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in one of her TED-Talks. Images of Africa are often been perceived in a reduced way, in accordance with a widespread cliché. In »More Aphrike #2« the multi-talented artists Andrew Dosumnu and Andy Amadi Okoroafor let us experience a more complex perception of afropolitan life between Lagos, Paris and New York through their movies, videos, magazines and photography.
About Andrew Dosunmu:
Andrew Dosunmu is a Nigerian photographer and filmmaker, currently living in New York. He directed music videos for Isaac Hayes, Tracy Chapman, Wyclef Jean, Kelis, Talib Kweli, Maxwell and others. His first motion picture »Restless City« premiered 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival. Two years later Andrew won the Cinematography Award for his movie »Mother of George«. His photographies got published in magazines, like Vibe, Face and i-D. Andrew’s latest film »Where is Kyra«, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kiefer Sutherland, was also shown at the Sundance Film Festival in the beginning of 2017 and has enthused the critics. Bradford Young, who got a Oscar nomination this year for his work in the drama »Arrival«, operated the camera for all movies of Andrew.
About Andy Amadi Okoroafor:
Nigerian-born director Andy Amadi Okoroafor went to school in France. In the 90ies he worked as an art director for well-know fashion brands. He later turned towards music video production, working with artists such as Xuly-Bët, Jean Paul Gaultier, Kookaï, Virgin and Nneka, while simultaneously founding the fashion magazine Clam. With his film debut »Relentless«, Andy temporary returned to his origins in Nigeria - pursuing his vision of reimagining contemporary African cinema for a worldwide audience.
Exhibition »Never Surrender«
Yoruba-shrines, clothing of shepherds from South Africa, Parisian-chic and Manhattan-style – The pictures, movies and magazines of Andrew Dosunmu and Andy Okoroafor interlock folklore and fashion, old and new homeland into an afro-inspired aesthetic, which is overcoming national borders with ease. Constantly seeking for a »visually authentic« and universal language Andrew Dosunmu und Andy Okoroafor are breaking through traditional media boundaries. The characters in Dosunmus and Okoroafors movies display this search of an authentic expression of one’s own identity in a globalized world.
»The images of people of colour is not very positive in American cinema«
Installation by Andy Okoroafor
»Nigeria is home and inspiration for me in many ways.«
Andy Okoroafor
»The motto of Clam magazine is Local Everywhere.« (Andy Okoroafor)
Andy Okoroafor
24.2.2017 Film-Screening, Metropolis Hamburg
24.2.2017 Vernissage & Talk in Hamburg: 25.2.2017
2.3.-18.3.2017 Exhibition »Never Surrender«, Photography and video installations
funded by the TURN Fund of the German Federal Cultural Foundation
