Last night I attended the opening party of my old mentor and dear friend Toyin Ibidapo's first ever solo exhibition. Toyin was one of the first photographers I assisted when I moved to London and we quickly became good friends. I have always been inspired by her beautiful and empathetic approach to her subjects which shows in her deeply personal work. Most of her stories over the years that she has built this body of work, have simply been shot either in her bedroom or on the housing estate on which she has lived all her life, there is nothing within her work that does not echo every detail of Toyin herself.
At first glance some may only see a collection of snapshot images of
young skinny white boys, but it is this obsession of male adolescence that makes Toyin question her own life and her own place within society.
I recommend going to view the exhibition if you can, which is on
from today until 23rd March at 20 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DU and
failing that buy her beautiful "Cult of Boys" book which is the printed
scrapbook of her thoughts, poems and memories that surround her
beautiful yet haunting pictures.
She is truly talented. It is so much more than images. It is a point of a view.
ReplyDeleteI will make sure to stop by the exhibition.
Glam kisses,
Marian