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Past Event
Join us for an exhibition tour exploring how portraiture captured the rich style and joyous spirit of Lagos in the 1970s
Autograph
Rivington Place
London EC2A 3BA, UK
Abi Morocco Photos: Spirit of Lagos is the first exhibition unearthing the story of Abi Morocco Photos, one of the most vibrant photographic studios operating in Lagos, Nigeria. Run by husband-and-wife duo John Abe and Funmilayo Abe from the 1970s to 2006, the studio became known for their versatility and dynamic portraiture, popular for many people around Lagos wanting to capture a variety of moments in their lives.
Co-curators of the exhibition, Lagos Studio Archives, will discuss their ongoing work in preserving works from the studio. They will select a range of works to expand on the history and legacy of the archive. Join us as we explore the legacy of Nigerian photography in this exhibition, and ensure its contributions are recognised within the broader cultural history of photography.
The tour will start promptly at 6:30pm in Gallery 1 and attendees are encouraged to engage and ask questions throughout the tour. To ensure the best experience, this event has a limited number of tickets available.
The ticket price for this event is £5. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. If this ticket price is unaffordable for you, please get in touch with Harriet at harriet@autograph-abp.co.uk about free ticketing options.
31 Oct 2024 - 22 Mar 2025
The first exhibition of these remarkable portraits capturing the rich style and joyous spirit of Lagos in the 1970s
Lagos Studio Archives is an ongoing cultural preservation project by Karl Ohiri (UK/NIG) and Riikka Kassinen (FIN/UK), consisting of thousands of film negatives documenting studio portraiture and vernacular photography in Lagos from the 1970s to post millennium.
The project started in 2015 when Ohiri discovered that many archives were being destroyed, discarded and stored away in humid conditions by a generation of photographers who were part of a shift from analogue to digital photography. Working with local photographers Ohiri started acquiring the endangered negatives in an attempt to ensure that this precious cultural heritage was not lost over time.
The Lagos Studio Archives aims to preserve and present the imagery of a generation of photographers that captured the style, humour and aspirations of everyday Lagosians, whose works would have gone unnoticed to the art world without intervention.
Everyone is welcome at Autograph. Planning a visit? Have a look at our Visit Us page to find out more about getting to the gallery, accessibility and more.
Autograph welcomes people with all types of disabilities.
This is an intimate event with a limited amount of tickets. We highly recommend booking in advance.
Our building and entrance is step free. A wheelchair accessible lift goes to all floors.
This event will take place in Gallery 1, on the ground floor.
The ticket price for this event is £5. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. If this ticket price is unaffordable for you please get in touch with Harriet at harriet@autograph-abp.co.uk about free ticketing options.
Autograph's events are popular, and often sell out. We recommend booking a ticket in advance. If you need to cancel your ticket for any reason, you can receive a refund up to 24 hours before the start of the event. You do not need to bring your paper ticket to the event.
Abi Morocco Photos: Spirit of Lagos is co-curated by Bindi Vora and Lagos Studio Archives.
Banner image: Abi Morocco Photos, Aina Street, Shogunle, Lagos [detail], c. 1970s. © Abi Morocco Photos. Courtesy Lagos Studio Archives.
Images on page: 1) Abi Morocco Photos, Aina Street, Shogunle, Lagos [detail], 1979. © Abi Morocco Photos. Courtesy Lagos Studio Archives. 2) Karl Ohiri and Riikka Kassinen. Courtesy Lagos Studio Archives 3) Autograph, London. Photograph by Zoë Maxwell.
Autograph is a place to see things differently. Since 1988, we have championed photography that explores issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.
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