NAU NUA: JAMEL SHABAZZ

The light of street

Jamel Shabazz © Barron Clairborne

Jamel Shabazz, photographer, was born in Brooklyn where he raised up surrounded by the photographs and the history books of his father who was a professional photographer. He picked up his first camera at 15 and started to document the daily life in Brooklyn. He describes even now his photography as “a visual diary” of his life. Photographers such as Robert Capa, Leonard Freed, James Van Der Zee, and Gordon Parks, and their documentation of the African American community were a big inspiration. During the 1980s, being still a teenager, he documented the life in New York City and could live the nascent movement of hip-hop. Neighbourhood kids and gang members, all the cultural youth life and a wide range of social conditions, Shabazz’s work became a perfect and honest portrait of a city’s creative renaissance. Many of his photographs are shot against the unique and spontaneous backdrop of the city’s streets and subway system. Published in 2001, Shabazz’ first book Back In The Days was celebrated as a deeply respectful portrait of those times. editorial magazine works. His work also featured in the Benson Lee’s documentary film Planet B-Boy (2007) and one of the best current hip hop bands, The Roots, featured his work as the album cover of the excellent album Undun (2011). Shabazz also appeared in the Cheryl Dunn documentary Everybody Street (2010), and Charlie Ahearn’s Jamel Shabazz: Street photographer (2013). Now the itinerant gallery Hardhitta Gallery presents in Cologne the exhibition Jamel Shabazz: Reflections from the 80s while he continues making photographs to preserve the role of his community in history.

What attracts you to photography?

What attracts me to photography is the ability to freeze time and preserve history.

Your father had some influence on your choice, hadn’t he?

My father provided me with a home environment that was full of great photography and history books. These insightful publications fed my mind with knowledge and allowed me to see a world outside my immediate community. My father was a professional photographer who learned the craft while in the United States Navy at just 17 years old. He created a magnificent body of images from the various countries he visited and I would view his personal photographs with great delight. I can never thank my father enough for providing me with a firm foundation.

How would you describe your photography?

My photography is in essence, a visual diary of my forty year journey in this craft.

Now you present “Reflections from the 80’s”. What does that period represent for you?

The 1980’s represents a time of innocence; a time before the great crack and AIDS epidemics that would transform the lives of thousands. A time when world peace seemed possible, despite all of the hidden agendas. Maybe I was being a bit idealistic but that is how I felt at the time. The 80’s was far from being perfect, but I saw hope and possibility.

Which photo do you consider the most representative of this series and why?

With all honesty every single photograph in the exhibition is an essential part of the series and each photograph represents a critical piece of the overall visual narrative.

All its photographs were taken in New York. How was the life in New York city? And now, many differences?

So much has changed since I picked up my first camera. Back in the 1980’s we had a host of problems as the crack and AIDS epidemics tore apart the fabric of the family. The government declared a war on drugs, which in all actuality was a war on the poor. Today, New York is now one of the most diverse cities in the world along with being one of most expensive. The cost of living is extremely high and there is a socio-economic gap; as working poor cannot afford housing and are finding themselves living in public shelters or on the streets. Another concern is the constant fear of terrorist attacks, creating a climate of distrust and uncertainty as things in distant lands are now making their way on to our shores.

Do you think to approach art to the streets could help to solve the social problems?

Maybe early on, but not now. The world is in chaos and it’s going to take more than art to solve this ever growing problem. Inspired by the words of Paul Robeson, the great Harry Belafonte often says, “ARTISTS ARE THE GATE KEEPERS OF THE TRUTH.” With art being a universal language, we hold the key to use our creativity to inspire peace.

Your portraits reflect a great vitality and it seems you can penetrate in the intimacy of the portrayed people although they are taken in the middle of one of the biggest and noisiest cities in the world. How do you achieve that?

Born and raised in one of the most action packed cities in the world, one develops immunity to all of the clutter and constant noise, therefore blocking it all out to achieve ones goal and objective.

What’s the main purpose of your photography?

The main purpose for me creating photographs is to contribute to the preservation of world history and culture, in conjunction with making sure that my community has a place in the annals of history.

We always ask artists to explain us a dream. Would you mind to explain us one of yours?

My idealistic dream is to live in a world where there is no hunger, hatred, nor war.

Jamel Shabazz : Reflections from the 80s | A selection here

Exhibition at the Hardhitta Gallery in Cologne