David Uzochukwu Explained

David Uzochukwu
Birth Name:David Ejikeme Uzochukwu
Birth Date:1998 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Innsbruck, Austria
Nationality:Austrian–Nigerian
Citizenship:Austrian–Nigerian
Education:Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Known For:Photography
Awards:EyeEm, Flickr's 20 Under 20

David Ejikeme Uzochukwu (born 10 December 1998) is an Austrian–Nigerian art photographer with a focus on portrait photography who lives and works in Brussels and Berlin.

He is queer.[1]

Early life and education

Born David Ejikeme Uzochukwu in Innsbruck, Austria, to an Austrian mother and a Nigerian father. He was raised in Innsbruck, before moving to Luxembourg and Brussels. He has since lived in Vienna and Berlin where he studies towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts in philosophy at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Work

Uzochukwu started with Self-portraiture and evolved to photographing Portraits in nature. His photography combines post-production and intimate portraiture,[2] frequently imparting images with an aura of isolation hanging over his body in physical manifestations of smoke, clouds, water, and fire. His surreal images present, for example, blue skies that become walls, crystals that float in midair, volcanic sand that becomes a comforting shroud, or blood that turns into a mask.[3]

His work has often conveyed his observations on race and queerness. At Unseen Amsterdam, for instance, he premiered a series of photographs which used the image of humanoid water creatures, equipped with fins, tails, or sharp teeth. In 2019, Uzochukwu was quoted saying that these works express 'what it means to be dubbed 'black," to have an oppressive notion of race imposed upon, and to thrive nonetheless.'[4] [5]

His latest project is a celebration of Nigerian creatives. Each portrait focuses on the 'disruptive energy' these artists used to push boundaries and make things happen.[6] [7]

His work is inspired by artists such as American photographer Gregory Crewdson and Kenyan-American artist Wangechi Mutu, whose works construct personal universes that conflate gender, race, art history, and personal identity.[8] [9]

In 2016, his series A Familiar Ruin was shown at BOZAR Center for Fine Arts as part of the group show Dey Your Lane!, curated by Nigerian Azu Nwagbogu.[10]

Exhibitions (selection)

Career

Uzochukwu began taking pictures at an early age. Already competent using his mother's point-and-shoot camera at age 10,[24] he started sharing his photographs more widely at the age of 13.[25] At 16, Uzochukwu went professional and signed with Iconoclast Image and Gallery 8.[26] At 17, FKA Twigs handpicked Uzochukwu to shoot a significant campaign for Nike in Mexico.[27]

Uzochukwu has created campaigns for clients like Adobe Photoshop, The Paris Opera (Opéra National de Paris),[28] Dior,[29] Nike,[30] Iris van Herpen,[31] and World Wildlife Fund,[32] and worked with artists such as FKA Twigs, Ibeyi,[33] Benjamin Clementine,[34] Labrinth,[35] Little Dragon, and Pharrell Williams.[36]

Recognition

In 2014, he was named EyeEm Photographer of the Year,[37] [38] as well as one of Flickr's inaugural 20under20.[39] In 2015, he was among the few selected for Adobe Photoshop's 25 Under 25[40] and received the Canon x Exhibitr Student Photography Award.[41] In 2019, he was selected for the CPH:LAB 2019/2020, the talent development program of Copenhagen International Documentary Festival.[42]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019-06-08. It's a pride, pride world. 2021-07-04. CUB Magazine. en-GB. 19 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211019110114/http://cubmagazine.co.uk/2019/06/its-a-pride-pride-world/. dead.
  2. Web site: First Hand — From signing with an agent at 16, to shooting for Nike at 17: What David Uzochukwu has learned so far. Davies. Indi. 16 August 2018. Lecture in Progress. 22 May 2020. 9 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200809170036/https://lectureinprogress.com/journal/david-uzochukwu. dead.
  3. Web site: Knotorys Talks to David Uzochukwu. Immi. 2018. Knotoryus. 24 May 2020.
  4. Web site: Across The Globe: Artist Spotlight #, Unseen Amsterdam. Staff writer. 16 September 2019. 24 May 2020.
  5. Web site: 35 Queer Photographers Illustrate What "Pride" Really Means. Maridelis-Morales. Rosado. 25 June 2019. Wmagazine. 24 May 2020.
  6. Web site: David Uzochukwu. A Shower of Sparks Emanates from Him. Wepresent. 24 May 2020.
  7. Web site: David Uzochukwu's 'Pluton' Celebrates Nigerian Creatives. Elizabeth. Marcia. 2019. Bubblegumclub. 24 May 2020.
  8. Web site: An Interview with David Uzochukwu in Brussels, Belgium. Ogilvy. Flora Alexandra. 20 April 2017. Arteviste. 24 May 2020.
  9. Web site: Wangechi Mutu (Kenyan, born 1972). Staff writer. Artnet. 24 May 2020.
  10. Web site: Meet the Artists, Dey Your Lane!, Lagos Variations. Staff writer. 15 June 2020. Bozar. 22 May 2020. 4 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170704135131/http://www.bozar.be/nl/activities/114513-meet-the-artists. dead.
  11. Web site: A Living Room by iGNANT, x Fantastic Frank. Kurze. Caroline. 2014. Ignant.com. 24 May 2020.
  12. Web site: These 20 Teenagers Are The Future Of Photography. Tafoya. Angela. 16 September 2014. Refinery29.com. 24 May 2020.
  13. Web site: The EyeEm World Tour. 2014. 24 May 2020.
  14. Book: Zidianakis, Vassilis. Unlocked. ATOPOS Contemporary Visual Culture. 2016. Athens.
  15. Web site: 17 juni '16 — 04 september '16, Dey Your Lane!, Lagos Variations. Staff writer. 2016. Bozar.be. 24 May 2020. 27 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127081924/https://www.bozar.be/nl/activities/105763-dey-your-lane. dead.
  16. Web site: 2016. Staff writer. 2016. Lagos Photo Festival. 24 May 2020.
  17. Web site: Photo exhibition "Where Future Beats". Bernardoni. Maria Pia. 2017. Festival Cinema Africano. 24 May 2020.
  18. Web site: Ouverture du MuPho à Saint Louis, premier musée dédié à la photographie au Sénégal. Mercier. Jeanne. 24 January 2018. 9 Lives Magazine. fr. 24 May 2020.
  19. Web site: Le musée de la photo de St Louis. Senegal Black Rainbow. 16 May 2018. Senegal Black Rainbow. fr. 24 May 2020. 29 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210929043708/https://www.senegalblackrainbow.org/2018/05/16/le-musee-de-la-photo-de-st-louis/. dead.
  20. Web site: Photo Vogue Festival: Milan, Italy 15–18 November 2018. 2018. Shutterhub. 24 May 2020.
  21. Web site: Photovogue – David Uzochukwu. Staff writer. 2018. Vogue. 24 May 2020.
  22. Web site: Photo Vogue Festival 2019. Pelloso. Giovanni. Vivi Milano Corriere. 24 May 2020.
  23. Web site: When Ethics meets Aesthetics • The exhibition. The opening at Leica Galerie in Milan. Marani. Francesca. 22 May 2018. Vogue. 24 May 2020.
  24. Web site: 15-Year-Old Photographer's Surreal Portraits Express Powerful Emotions. Zhang. Jenny. 22 September 2014. My Modern Met. 25 May 2020.
  25. Web site: Iconoclast and Monom Present: An Immersive Soundscape Experience With David Uzochukwu. Staff writer. 13 October 2019. Monom Sound. 24 May 2020.
  26. Web site: Going Pro at 16. An Interview with David Uzochukwu. Severin. Uzochukwu. David. Eyeem. 24 May 2020.
  27. Web site: Meet David Uzochukwu, the photographer behind FKA twigs' Dream Warrior issue. Yeung. Vivian. Crack Magazine. 24 May 2020.
  28. Web site: Meet David Uzochukwu, The Austro-Nigerian Photographer Who Is Doing Great Things!. Chioma. 26 February 2016. Zikoko. 24 May 2020.
  29. Web site: Dior 'Collection' Dir David Uzochukwu Prod Iconoclast. Colomer. Arnau Valls. 2018. Vimeo. 24 May 2020.
  30. Web site: FKA twigs teams up with 17 year old photographer David Uzochukwu for new Nike campaign. Pritchard. Owen. 11 January 2017. It's Nice That. 24 May 2020.
  31. Web site: News 'Sensory Seas' Intimately Lensed by the Magnificent David Uzochukwu. 2020. Iris van Herpen. 24 May 2020.
  32. Web site: Ohne Mutter Natur gibt es keine Zukunft für Menschenkinder. Schmidt. Eva-Maria. 11 September 2017. Horizont. 24 May 2020.
  33. Web site: David Uzochukwu: De rijzende ster aan het fotografiefirnament. De Brusselse tiener bij wie sterren in de rij staan. De Vriendt. Mien. 2 September 2017. De Standaard. 24 May 2020.
  34. Web site: Benjamin Clementine. Staff writer. Matthew Josephs. 24 May 2020.
  35. Web site: Labrinth interview: 'I felt like my crown was becoming a burden'. Smyth. David. 25 October 2019. Standard. 24 May 2020.
  36. Web site: Werken voor Wes Anderson en Pharrell Williams doe je zo. Van Lancker. Eline. 14 November 2019. De Morgen. nl. 24 May 2020.
  37. Web site: Going Pro at 16: An Interview with David Uzochukwu. EyeEm. 10 November 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081503/https://www.eyeem.com/blog/2015/01/going-pro-at-16-an-interview-with-david-uzochukwu/. dead.
  38. Web site: O autodidata de 16 anos eleito 'Fotógrafo do Ano'. Bizzotto. Márcia. 3 November 2015. BBC. pt. 24 May 2020.
  39. Web site: Flickr 20 Under 20. Flickr. 6 April 2017.
  40. Web site: Photoshop's 25 Under 25 Starts with a Band with 8 Global Phenoms. Photoshop Blog by Adobe. 10 November 2015.
  41. News: Las seis cuentas que seguir en tus redes sociales este octubre. Fernandez. Elisa Sanchez. 3 October 2016. El Pais. es. 24 May 2020.
  42. Web site: CPH:LAB announces this year's participants for the 2019/2020 edition. Staff writer. 27 August 2019. CPH:DOX. 24 May 2020.

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