Celebration as Resistance: a conversation with Wolfgang Suschitzky
For two days only, Nov 14th (12pm-6pm) and 15th (10am-5pm), we hosted Celebration as Resistance: a Conversation with Wolfgang Suschitzky, an exhibition on the lasting legacy of carnival in London.
The exhibition featured colour transparencies by British Austrian-born photographer Wolfgang Suschitzky – the only known instance of him working in colour – of Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago around the time that the country gained independence from Great Britain; thus, capturing a Carnival at the precipice of change.
Placed in dialogue with Suschitzky’s work, artists Funmi Akingbe, Gabriella Drew, and Hark1karan captured a present day carnival diaspora through images depicting its music, costume, and community. Informed by the geographical and physical movement of Carnival, the works captured the preparatory atmosphere, vibrant energy, and moments of reprieve.
About the artists:
-
Hark1karan is a London-born-and-bred community photographer and outsider artist. He documents life in London and the UK. Much of his work focuses on the lives of Panjabis, Sikhs, and the many layers of London culture. Hark1karan is self-taught and works independently, focusing on people and places he’s built trusted relationships with over the years. His work is shaped by his Sikh faith, Panjabi upbringing, and London’s culture, as well as the city’s working-class culture. The freedom of being independent allows him to tell the stories he wants.
His portfolio includes the photo books PIND, KISAAN, Grass Roots, Zimmers of Southall, Arawak, Barking Nagar Kirtan, Mixy and Bhangra, as well as the short documentaries Zimmers of Southall (Parts 1 & 2) and A Portrait of Central Hill: A Mini-Documentary. His work has been exhibited, published and featured internationally.
-
Funmi Akingbe is a portrait and event photographer based in London. Her practice focuses on capturing people’s energy, emotion and individuality through both candid and composed imagery. Working across community and cultural events, fashion runways, family gatherings and portrait sessions, she explores photography as a way of connecting with others and preserving the stories embedded in everyday moments. For Funmi, her work is a space where those moments become timeless.
-
Gabriella Drew (b. 1998) is a photographer whose work discusses the complexities of past and present forms of representation. Her work predominately focuses on storytelling in a timeless and nostalgic manner.
Born and raised in south east London. Drew’s path began by focusing on archival imagery, that led to her studying the cultural identity crisis. Throughout her personal and commercial work, there is a consistent dialogue of paying homage to her Jamaican ancestry through colours, textures and style. Exclusively shooting on film and through environmental portraiture, she seeks to translate this through her own authentic and contemporary lens.
Her works spans documentary, fashion and music, with a portfolio that shows a variety of brands and artists she has worked with. Each project displays her visual voice through her particular style and colour palette.