Leonce Raphael Agbodjélou has built on his reputation as one of the best photographers of street life in modern Africa – its colours, contrasts and cultural collisions – and produced a spectacular series of shots focusing on the voodoo rites and rituals of his native Benin, wherein he cleverly brings the shadowy mysterious ceremonial costumes into unflinching daylight. Is he questioning perhaps the potency and enduring popular appeal of these beliefs, or merely re-enforcing how much a part of everyday life they are in west Africa? The work is part of strong group show at the dynamic Jack Bell Gallery, which runs until October 29.
Share Article
Further Info
About the Author
—
Rob Alderson is a freelance writer, editor and strategist. He was previously editor-in-chief of It’s Nice That and WePresent, and editor of Design Week. He publishes the newsletter Undo, which tries to make sense of how AI is changing design work, the design process and the design industry.