Samuel Fosso's Self-Portrait Exhibition at The Walther Collection Challenges African Identity Tropes

The Walther Collection in New York is showcasing an exhibition of 39 photographs by Samuel Fosso, highlighting his exploration of African identity through self-portraiture from the mid-1970s to 2013. Born in 1962 in Cameroon, Fosso escaped the civil war in Nigeria and established a photography studio in Bangui, Central African Republic. His initial black-and-white works capture youthful expression during the regime of Jean-Bédel Bokassa. The "Tati" series from 1997 critiques colonial representations, while "African Spirits," created in 2008, reinterprets key figures from the African Independence and American Civil Rights movements. His later pieces delve into personal trauma, culminating in the 2013 series "The Emperor of Africa," which critiques Mao Tse-tung's propaganda. The exhibition is open from June 9, 2013, to May 17, 2015, located at 526 West 26th Street.