Horace Ové
(1939-2023), Film-maker and photographerSir Horace Shango Ové
Sitter in 1 portrait
Artist of 13 portraits
Born in Trinidad in 1939, Ové was known as one of the leading black film-makers to emerge in London in the post-war period, achieving worldwide recognition for his feature films Pressure (1976), about growing up in West London in the 1970s, and Playing Away (1986), which describes the experiences of a Brixton-based cricket team. As well as his film work, Ové documented, as a photographer, Britain's black diaspora community and the birth and development of Notting Hill Carnival over 40 years. He uniquely chronicled the leading figures emerging from the black community in the fields of art and politics. He was appointed CBE in 2007 and knighted in 2022.
'The Lime' (Samuel Selvon; John La Rose; Andrew Salkey)
by Horace Ové
giclée print, 1974
NPG x126733
Valerie Ann Amos, Baroness Amos of Brondesbury
by Horace Ové
giclée colour print, 2004
NPG x126734
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Annabelle Alcazar
19 April 2022, 10:00
He received a knighthood in this years honour list!
Jo Tulloch
03 June 2022, 20:39
Horace Ove was often an attentive presence at demonstrations in support of the black community. He photographed the 1970 demo against police harassment, in support of the Mangrove cafe in All Saints Road, W11, at which the police charged demonstrators and then accused nine of them of riot - a very serious charge. (The subsequent trial of the Mangrove 9 at the Old Bailey and their acquittal has been immortalised by Steve McQueen, the British-Trinidadian film maker, whose portrayal "Mangrove" was shown on BBC1 in November 2020 as part of the Small Axe series.) Horace has achieved a huge amount, not only through his photography but also his 35+ films. He really deserves his knighthood!