Different is about identity. It is a story, told in both images and words, of contemporary Black and Asian artists exploring questions of their own identities through photography.
A historical introduction examines the way in which photographers have approached issues of their 'difference' since the beginning of the photographic medium. The images are selected by Stuart Hall and Mark Sealy, while Hall introduces the artists and explains the themes and issues of their work. However, with over 180 diverse images, Different is a visual feast. With an accompanying text by one of the world's leading social and cultural commentators, it is also more than that: it is a unique, important and exciting look at contemporary photography and racial identity.
The main part of the book addresses contemporary work produced since 1985, providing a cultural context. Before this date there was no organized black photography movement to speak of, and there were extremely few established black photographers in the commercial and arts worlds. Since 1985 a number of black photographic artists have emerged into public view through their addressing of identity issues.
In a succinct essay, Hall introduces and contextualizes 160 photographs by approximately 40 black photographers worldwide, who have produced bodies of work that relate to racial, national, gender and sexual identity. Each of these monumental photographers is represented by four pictures.
The photographers include Faisal Abdu Allah, Ajamu, Oladele Bamgboye, Dawoud Bey, Zarina Bhimji, Chila Burman, Albert Chong, Clement Cooper, Poulomi Desai, Armet Francis, Remi Gastambide, Joy Gregory, Sunil Gupta, Lyle Harris, Peter Max Kandhola, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Roshini Kempadoo, Anthony Lam, Eric Lesdema, Dave Lewis, Roy Mehta, Estaquio Neves, Eileen Perrier, Ingrid Pollard, Franklyn Rodgers, Fazal Sheikh, Yinka Shonibare, Coreen Simpson, Lorna Simpson, Clarissa Sligh, Maud Sulter, Robert Taylor, Ike Ude, Maxine Walker, Carrie Mae Weems and Pat Ward Williams.
Stuart Hall, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Britain's Open University, is widely regarded as the prime successor to Raymond Williams for his teachings on culture and society. He has lectured extensively worldwide, and is Chairman of both inIVA (Institute of International Visual Arts) and Autograph. For 15 years he has been at the vanguard of debates around race, identity and sexuality in the UK. He has written numerous key students' texts, and his books include Critical Dialogues in Cultural Studies, Modernity: An Introduction to Modern Societies, The Hard Road to Renewal: Thatcherism and the Crisis of the Left, Questions of Cultural Identity and Resistance Through Rituals: Youth Subculture in Post-War Britain.
Mark Sealy is a producer and curator of photography , and since 1991who has been director of Autograph (Association of Black Photographers).
