philip kwame apagya

ghanaian photographer philip kwame apagya engages with a long standing african tradition of taking formal photographic portraits in front of painted backgrounds. these particular backdrops were commissioned and have symbolic importance for philip, addressing both cultural identity and consumer society. "the subject stands in front of a painted backdrop that portrays everything people dream of having: fake new england country houses showing off some porcelain, VCRs and TVs in bar closets, modern kitchens with well-stocked refrigerators with coke and cheetos..." see more of philip's work here.

[both philip kwame apagya. portrait. 1996.]