'I am inspired by my origins and by new creative exchanges, infusing reality with my own sensitivities and experiences.' —Namsa Leuba
In her visual journey to reflect her dual heritage through photography, Swiss-Guinean artist Namsa Leuba (b. 1982) combines documentary with staging, blurring the line between fact and fiction. Umfana (meaning ‘Boy’ in Zulu) is part of the series Kingdom of Mountain, produced in the area of Katse Dam in Lesotho, South Africa during the artist’s residency with the Swiss Art Council. She explains: ‘While posed within a natural setting, with mountains, lakes and expansive foliage, these portraits are not a documentary portrayal of their daily lives.’ These constructed portraits are presented as a colourful assemblage of poses and accessories, designed to explore cultural exchanges between Africa and Europe, and what the artists defines as ‘the themes of cultural hybridity’. Leuba was one of the 15 artists featured in the recent world-touring exhibition, The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion, organised by Aperture.