Maison Européenne de la Photographie unveils 'Black Bricolage' exhibition examining Afropean identity
The exhibition, originating from the music term 'Afropean', documents colonial history and racism across Paris, Berlin, Lisbon, Marseille, and Brussels.
The Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris has opened a significant new exhibition titled 'Black Bricolage', a project that spans two decades of photographic documentation. British photographer Johny Pitts launched the initiative to address the complex themes of identity, colonial history, and racism within the European context.
Originating from a term originally used in the music world, 'Afropean' has been adopted by Pitts as the guiding framework for his life's work. The resulting collection brings together photographs, notebooks, and documents sourced from a range of cities including Paris, Berlin, Lisbon, Marseille, and Brussels.
The core objective of the project is to shift focus away from sensationalised narratives to highlight the ordinary lives of Black Europeans. Pitts argues that these everyday realities rarely make the front page, yet they form a critical part of the continent's social fabric.
Central to the exhibition is an attempt to confront Europe with a self-portrait it has not yet dared to examine. The narrative focuses heavily on the presence of colonial ghosts and the evolving definition of what it means to be both Black and European in the modern era.
During discussions surrounding the launch, Pitts addressed specific contemporary issues raised by his work. He noted the racist backlash currently facing a Paris mayor and reflected on the identity of a Harry Potter actor as illustrative examples of the broader tensions explored in the photographs.
By presenting this comprehensive visual record, the exhibition aims to fill a gap in public understanding regarding the lived experiences of Black individuals across the continent. The work stands as a sustained inquiry into the question of what it actually means to be Black and European.
