Common Threads
‘Common Threads’ is an exhibition that brings together two 20th Century photographers, August Sander and Seydou Keïta, whose works document transformations in their respective countries.
Sander was born in Germany in 1876 and dedicated over five decades to the concept of capturing ordinary citizens of Germany. Rather than focusing on their individual traits and characteristics Sander was more interested in grouping people into social types. The result of his concept was a series of portraits that displayed individuals within stereotypes that included ‘artists’, ‘farmers’ and ‘the city’.
Born in 1921 in Mali, Keïta is a self-taught photographer. Establishing his own studio Keïta’s portraits are stylised and striking representations of the clients who sat for him. His work was largely undiscovered by the Western world until the 1990’s. He has since become one of the most significant African photographers. Keïta’s photographs are not simply images of his clients, but a wider snapshot of an era in Malinese society.
Although the intentions of these two artists were quite different, connections can be drawn to their similar conceptions of the portrait. The focus within their work on and use of clothing and environments, were used as important markers of identity and societal change.
Common Threads is part of a larger exhibition titled Spun: Adventures in Textiles and is on display at the Denver Art Museum, US until Sunday 22 September 2013.
