About the event

"Bastard of the Diaspora" is an exhibition of photographs and video from artist Hakeem Adewumi, guest curated by writer and curator Lise Ragbir.

Through a series of life-size self-portraits, Nigerian-American photographer Hakeem Adewumi (b. 1990) invites viewers to join him in seeking and establishing his place within the African Diaspora. For Adewumi, this is a lifelong negotiation—balancing who he is, with who he is expected to be. Born in the U.S. to an American mother and Nigerian father, the artist was largely influenced by Black American culture. “The longing to understand my Nigerian heritage prompted an exploration of my identity. This allowed me to claim parts of myself that might have remained invisible. Non-existent. Overshadowed by a range of cultural limitations.”

Adewumi’s work is a timely and relevant exploration of Black and queer identity in ever-evolving socio-political and art landscapes. Yet the artist has built a visual vocabulary on the foundation of aesthetics and inquiry that have come before him, as he plays a role in paving the way for what comes next.