Benjamin's Britain
Benjamin Zephaniah
by Miriam Reik
1980s
NPG x30307
Past display archive
13 June - 10 September 2006
Room 37a
Free
"I am a music lover, an animal lover, and a people lover. In this exhibition I wanted to bring all my lovers into one space. I just want to celebrate life, here, now".
This exhibition features a selection of photographs by poet and author, Benjamin Zephaniah. It is a very personal selection drawn from four themes, which focus on, as well as celebrate, issues and movements that have particular meaning for him.
Brit Islam addresses the issue of the demonization of Muslims, especially by some sectors of the media. Zephaniah has selected images of Muslims from the 1950's to the present day.
Face Me challenges our perception of people who have been stigmatized in another way. The images of people with facial disfigurements are provided by Changing Faces, a charity that addresses the psychological and social challenges faced by people with disfigurements of all kinds.
Punky Reggae Party brings together images of musicians across different musical styles and decades. They are linked by their attitude, political voice and ability to make people dance.
Animals Like Me highlights Zephaniah's vegan stance and expresses his love for all living things.
This exhibition was first shown at Manchester Art Gallery as part of a collaboration with the Gallery made possible by the DCMS/DfES National/Regional Museum Education Partnerships Programme.
Events
Thursday 7 September, 19.00
Benjamin Zephaniah will be discussing the themes and the selection of work in Benjamin's Britain. Free
Lee 'Scratch' Perry
by Gerald Jenkins
16 June 2003
NPG x126222
Sinéad O'Connor
by Andrew Catlin
May 1988
NPG x35992
Ijahman Levi (Trevor Sutherland)
by Danijah Tafari
1985
NPG x76198
Related portraits
- A bull (NPG x127251)
- A dog (NPG x127254)
- An ostrich (NPG x127252)
- An Orangutan (NPG x127253)
- Siouxsie and the Banshees (Siouxie Sioux; Kenny Morris; John McKay; Steve Severin) (NPG x87838)
- Debbie Harry (NPG x125338)
- Benjamin Zephaniah (NPG x30307)
- Ijahman Levi (Trevor Sutherland) (NPG x76198)
- Courtney Pine (NPG x35367)
- Sinéad O'Connor (NPG x35992)
- Aswad (Brinsley Forde; Gad Robinson; Drummie Zeb) (NPG x76193)
- Dame Zaha Hadid (NPG x87300)
- Lee 'Scratch' Perry (NPG x126222)
Related sitters
- Brinsley Forde
- Angus ('Drummie Zeb') Gaye
- Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid
- Deborah ('Debbie') Harry
- Ijahman Levi (Trevor Sutherland)
- John McKay
- Kenny Morris
- Sinéad O'Connor (Shuhada' Sadaqat (née Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor, formerly Magda Davitt))
- Lee 'Scratch' Perry (Rainford Hugh Perry)
- Courtney Pine
- Tony ('Gad') Robinson
- Steve Severin
- Siouxsie Sioux (Susan Ballion)
- Benjamin Zephaniah