奥杰克勒摄影 J D ’OKHAL OJEIKERE: PHOTOGRAPHS

Nootheraspectoffashionisasfleetingandephemeralashairstyles.Whereaswemightponderthelengthofhemlinesandthefabricdujour,hairoftenescapesthepassionatefashionista'sfastidiousanddiscerninggaze.J.D.'OkhaiOjeikere(born1930),whoworkedasanadvertisingphotographerformostofhislife,hasdocumentedthehairstylesofhisnativeNigeriainpainstakingdetailforoverthirtyyears.Plaited,braided,inbuns,intoweringtresses:InOjeikere'sphotographshairrevealsitssculpturalqualities.Hisdeceptivelysimple,classicallycomposedphotographsdisplayhairstylesasasheerplayofforms-minimal,abstract,transientartworks.ButOjeikere'sphotographsdonotmerelypurveyaestheticpleasures.TheyprovideandunexpectedinsightintoNigerianculture.Detailedcaptionstellusbywhomandforwhichoccasionaparticularhairdowasworn,leadingthereaderintoapreviouslyunfamiliarsocialmilieu.InanexhaustivetextOjeikererecountshislifeasaphotographer,givingusaglimpseofthenascentAfricanmassmediacultureofthe60'sand70's.