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Black History Month: Leia Gallery launches ‘Heavy is the Mantle’ exhibition and a month of talks
By Tempus | 20 September 2022 | Culture
Holly-Marie Cato’s first ever solo exhibition hits London next month
Leica Gallery London has announced that it will be hosting the debut solo exhibition from photographer and Leica Ambassador Holly-Marie Cato, as part of its programme for Black History Month.
The exhibition, dubbed Heavy is the Mantle, marks the beginning of a month of talks from leading black photographers curated by Cato and supported by Leica UK.
The showcases focuses on Cato in the days before she stepped down as presiding Bishop of City Mission Church. Spurred on by the nostalgia of attending Sunday service with her late grandmother, Holly-Marie Cato expands her lens to documenting the wider congregation, from swishing choir robes, taking communion and the theatre of exhortations.
According to Leica, Cato "explores her fascination of Christianity within the Caribbean community, especially the church leaders who carry the weight and responsibility of their roles with reverence", adding that the works focus on the "spiritual and symbolic mantle of responsibility church leaders carry and the task of passing that mantle and tradition on to the following generation".
Speaking of the event, Cato said: “Over the month of October, we want to celebrate Black pioneering photographers who have pushed the visual narrative.
"Photographers who have not been celebrated enough from the legendary Charlie Philips to Leica grant recipient Renee Maria Osubu," she added. "We want to shine a light on their work in a series of four talks hosted by leading Black photographers and aimed at championing new voices, while also inviting a younger, more diverse audience through the doors of Leica Store Mayfair and Leica Gallery London.”
The planned talks are as follows:
Thursday 6 October
Renee Maria Osubu: Dear Philadelphia, hosted by Ferren Gipson Award-winning photographer and videographer Renee Maria Osubu will be presenting a film screening of her short film, Dear Philadelphia, which was internationally premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2021 and also won the Jury award for Best Short Documentary at Blackstar Film Festival. Following the screening, Ferren Gipson will be hosting a Q&A with Renee about the photo series and film to gain a deeper understanding.
Thursday 13 October
Hosted by Ferren Gipson, Henry J. Kamara will be discussing his unreleased body of work, titled Keep the Drums Lose the Knife. The project forms an important discussion around female genital mutilation (FGM) and contains a survivor and activist account from Sarian Karim Kamara. Henry thoughtfully documents the survivors of FGM in his country of origin, Sierra Leone and in the United Kingdom.
Tuesday 18th October
Join Charlie Philips in conversation with Eddie Otcher. Both photographers are renowned for documenting some of the most iconic events of the last 60 years from Mohammed Ali to Biggie Smalls, Eddie Otchere and Charlie Phillips understand the act of seeing. They will discuss the historical context behind their imagery and why they document their own communities.
Thursday 27th October
Simon Frederick will discuss his groundbreaking catalogue of photography and documentary film work. His ascendancy from self-taught photographer to award winning and frequently commissioned director and producer, is one that is pioneering and inspirational. We will be screening and discussing excerpts from his National Portrait Gallery collection and documentary “Black Is The New Black” (BBC) “They’ve Gotta Have Us” (Netflix) and THEOUTSIDERS? (Youtube Originals) Followed by a Q&A session.