Alternative Arts, the community arts organisation based in Tower Hamlets has launched an online retrospective exhibition featuring the work of 18 black British photographers.

The exhibition showcases work archived from exhibitions between 2021 to 2023 which celebrates contemporary culture and black British identity. The exhibition includes the work of Asiko, George Dyer, Bettina Adela, Chris Batantu, Rio Blake, Raymond Daley, Denise Ebanks, Tzion Essel, Marlan Henry, Raymond Daley, Taishan Henry, Elsie Kibue-Ngare, Dexter McClean, Trisha McCauley, Mohamed Mohamud, Angela Ogunfojuri, Olufemi Olaiya, Keleenna Onyeaka, Dola Posh.

Dola Posh is a British-Nigerian-born photographer, born in 1991. Speaking to ELL, she said she started taking photographs on a family trip to Ikogosi, Nigeria.

“Since then, I continued practising photography at the University of Lagos. Over time, this ‘hobby’ evolved into a career and artistic expression as I delved into the transformative journey of new motherhood.”

She added “[…] the birth of my daughter became a pivotal moment that rekindled my creative flame and led me on the journey of healing through photography.”

“The message I wanted to send with my photograph is that Black mothers are powerful, graceful, and resilient, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.

“It’s about showing the beauty and strength that often gets overlooked—how we navigate the difficulties of postpartum depression, societal expectations, and the invisible pressures we face. The photograph captures a moment of vulnerability but also a moment of reclamation—of self, of identity, of motherhood.”

Posh said Black History Month is; “[…]an opportunity to highlight the triumphs and struggles of Black people, past and present, and to honour the resilience of our community.”

Posh told EastLondonLines that the borough could benefit from learning more about Black History; “Tower Hamlets, like many places, could benefit from more diversity and insight into Black History. It’s important for communities to understand the histories and contributions of the people who live in them, especially in a multicultural area like Tower Hamlets. We always support Black History Month in Tower Hamlets because we believe it is important to focus on our black community and its history, especially through the arts and in education so that their contribution to our culture may be more widely appreciated.”

Rio Blake, a 28-year-old photographer from Camden, whose work is also featured, said that Black History Month represents crucial steps “towards ending ignorance”.

Blake told EastLondonLines: “The recognition of Black history, particularly Black British history, is incredibly important in today’s global context.

“While living in London gives us the advantage of being in a diverse ‘bubble’, there is still widespread ignorance about race in the UK that Black History Month helps to address.”

The work of 51-year-old Raymond Daley, British artist and photographer, is also displayed in the exhibition. One of the photos he took was of Prince Terralox, a reggae artist and his old friend.

Talking to ELL Daley said that the photograph shows “[…] Prince Terralox [sitting] at the threshold of the Caribbean restaurant with the confidence, reassurance of culture, identity and community.”

“I believe the image captures his charisma and presence. […] The image encapsulates him as an individual, the distinctive locks and extrovert nature, enjoying a sunny day and being thankful for another opportunity and the freedom to express himself artistically.”

Talking about his views on Black History Month he said: “[It] gives us the opportunity to affirm one another. Black History Month gives space for creatives, historians and intellectuals to celebrate our collective cultures. […] It is important for Tower Hamlets to understand and appreciate Black History.”

Maggie Pinhorn, the director of Alternative Arts staging the exhibition, told EastLondonLines: “We have worked in Tower Hamlets for many years and have always tried to create opportunities for black artists to be creative and show their work. […] These days, we work mostly with photographers and are pleased to see how they have progressed.”

The exhibition can be viewed here for the rest of the month.