Just Because....

... i thought i'd share with ya'll.

I was actually looking for inspiration of new natural hairstyles, and came across these inspiring and intriguing  photographs ... both new to be and not. 

The following photographs were taken from 1901 - present. It struck me while discovering these photos that unless one goes out of their way to find these sorts of images. We very rarely see african's in this amazing light.

This following picture was taken in 1901, apart from the greyed hue of the photo. This could easily be a contemporary photo taken in 2011. 

The way in which this woman has accessorised her hair with flowers, emphasise's the notion that nothing is new! Such elegance...

 1901

I found this picture on a Flckr site taken by Gbaku. One of the comments to this photo questioned why the woman would do this? Immediately, it was obvious to me that women through all the ages, are about emphasising their best assets. It just goes to show plastic surgery even though appears to be a modern concept, is maybe not so new??!

 Taken in Liberia in 1943 by Gbaku.

"the way that I use backdrops in order to pose people for their pictures is all about transporting them, taking them to places where they don't go," he says.

After which Samuel Fosso famously began taking photo's of himself. The first time I saw this artist was at the Hayward Gallery in Southbank about 5yrs ago. The exhibition was centred on contemporary African Art, this exhibition open my eyes to the wonder of African Art... Samuel Fosso's piece below was one that has also stayed with me. Because of it extravagance, sense of humour yet poignancy.

Le Chef. Samuel Fosso. 1994

Checkout this Artist Seydou Keita (1921 - 2001), a self taught photographer based in Bamako in Mali. I'm in love with these photos they are too cool and kinda 50's chic! Taken between the 50's and 60's. Keita had a studio in Bamako. It seems he was a bit of local hero, where Mali's social elite and middle class would go to his studio to have photo's taken. He would use various props such as mopeds and car, car's which at the time were quite a luxury to be shown with. Maybe Africa's answer Mario Testino of that time? Fortunately his art wasn't too much of a well kept secret and found its way to New York, after which he became quite wealthy selling pieces as much as $16,000.

Ciao for now ! xx