(Pics) Urban Africa Exhibition: A Unique Snapshot Of Life In Africa Today

Stepping out of his regular line of work as an award winning architect, Tanzanian born David Adjaye photographed key cities in Africa as part of an ongoing research project chronicling patterns in urban environments. These insights are shared in Urban Africa, an exhibition at the Design Museum, London, which takes viewers on a visual voyage of appreciation through the built environment of 53 African cities. Presented as a series of vivid large-scale projections, set against a backdrop of African beats, re-creating in a way, the rich environment in which they were shot.

A continent, often defined by its underdevelopment, poverty, wildlife, and wars, Adjaye presents Africa in a different light, revealing glimpses of everyday life from suburban settlements to townscapes. The photographs, over 2000 in total are full of color and social commentary often revealing the dynamic nature of architecture in Africa, from commercial, recreational, artistic, ancient and modern buildings. Documenting the cities and buildings presents a cultural profile of each African city in a global context as well as addresses the scant knowledge of the built environment of the African continent.

The exhibit runs through the 5th of September.

Urban Africa

David Adjaye