Jabu Alexandra was born in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg,
South Africa in 1977. He has been living and working in
London for the past seven years.
Jabu's
artistic objective is predominantly to explore both the
differences and commonalities between different peoples
and cultures.
In
this series, 'Barbershop', he has contrasted two businesses
in South
London. 'Desmonds' is an established, more traditional shop,
and 'Clip Art'
has a younger, more urban style. His aim was to explore
the social significance of these masculine spaces, emphasising
the implications of the meticulous nature of male preening.
Grooming has always been central to black lifestyle, as
how a man presents himself informs perceptions of how "successful"
he is or could be. This pride in appearance is why these
businesses thrive, and is reflected in both the detail of
the environment's decor and the detail and care taken with
the actual cut.
|
