Dec 14

Dec 14 Half way between two worlds

I fell in love with extensive archive of my mum, finally being able to put a physical image to all the stories of her youth that she had told me. She always remained so poised and immaculately styled in all of the images. Using these images of my mum as a source of inspiration, the images I create are a response to an investigation into my own cultural identity as a second generation British-Nigerian woman.

sunglasses STYLIST’S OWN top NIGERIAN ANKARA beaded top CLIO PEPPIATT earrings VINTAGE trousers NODRESS bangle VINTAGE boots STYLIST’S OWN. necklace TRADITIONAL NIGERIAN CORAL top NODRESS skirt TRADITIONAL NIGERIAN WEAR — sunglasses **STYLIST’S OWN** top **NIGERIAN** **ANKARA** beaded top CLIO PEPPIATT earrings **VINTAGE** trousers NODRESS bangle **VINTAGE** boots **STYLIST’S** **OWN**. necklace **TRADITIONAL** **NIGERIAN CORAL** top NODRESS skirt **TRADITIONAL** **NIGERIAN** **WEAR**

sunglasses STYLIST’S OWN necklace VINTAGE net top STYLIST'S OWN latex bra ELISSA POPPY skirt NIGERIAN ANKARA FABRIC. earrings VINTAGE bag CLIO PEPPIATT shoes SERGIO ROSSI — sunglasses **STYLIST’S** **OWN** necklace **VINTAGE** net top **STYLIST'S** **OWN** latex bra **ELISSA** **POPPY** skirt NIGERIAN **ANKARA** **FABRIC**. earrings **VINTAGE** bag CLIO PEPPIATT shoes SERGIO ROSSI

I wanted to combine familiarities and memories of my childhood with the inherited understanding of traditions within my heritage, which have ultimately passed down from my mother, my muse.
The intended outcome for the project is to be realised as a collection of constructed photographs, which encapsulates a combination of folklore and memory.

LEFT sunglasses STYLIST’S OWN top NIGERIAN ANKARA beaded top CLIO PEPPIATT earrings VINTAGE. sunglasses STYLIST’S OWN necklace VINTAGE net top STYLIST'S OWN latex bra ELISSA POPPY earrings VINTAGE RIGHT top NIGERIAN ANKARA beaded top CLIO PEPPIATT t… — *LEFT* sunglasses **STYLIST’S OWN** top **NIGERIAN ANKARA** beaded top CLIO PEPPIATT earrings **VINTAGE.** sunglasses STYLIST’S OWN necklace **VINTAGE** net top **STYLIST'S OWN** latex bra **ELISSA POPPY** earrings **VINTAGE** *RIGHT* top **NIGERIAN** **ANKARA** beaded top CLIO PEPPIATT trousers NODRESS boots **STYLIST’S OWN**. net top **STYLIST'S OWN** skirt NIGERIAN ANKARA FABRIC bag CLIO PEPPIATT shoes **SERGIO ROSSI**

As a kid, my mum would always take my sister and I to family events, community meetings and other various events that meant dressing up to the nines was always done without being said. I remember always being fascinated by the aunties and uncles who always had the most extravagant outfits.

As a way drawing from Nigerian roots as well as my western upbringing, it was essential for the styling and casting to play a big role into the shoots. Working with stylist, Aisha Nova, we wanted to play with styling so the looks sometimes directly contrasted one another and my interpretations of both cultures. It was important for me to incorporate pieces of my mum’s own wardrobe, I guess it makes me feel more connected to the work. Rather than it just being a fashion editorial, I see these images as a way of merging the aesthetics of fashion and documentary photography, creating something more, something that’s still fashion-lead but also personal and nostalgic.