Delali Ayivi x Togo Yeye, The Dance, 2021, From the series ‘Racines de l’imaginaire’, Pigment inkjet print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Metallic, 90x60cm – Ed 3. Courtesy of Galerie Number 8.
Delali Ayivi is a Togolese-German photographer whose practice focuses on diversifying representations of black communities. Ayivi was born in Baltimore (USA) but grew up in Germany. Finding the work of her great great grandfather, Alex A., one of the first Togolese photographers, inspired Delali to document people with a focus on fashion.
In 2019, Delali founded Togo Yéyé, a project which scouts innovative Togolese talent, documenting and empowering the Togolese creative community. Togo Yéyé has been exhibited at the Photo Vogue festival 2021 and was awarded the pH Museum New Generation Prize 2022. In February 2022 Togo Yéyé opened a solo exhibition commissioned by the Palais de Lomé. She has since put out two series: Heimat (In Quarantine) and Reflections on ‘Heimat’ – the projects earned Delali the title Foam Talent 2021, and were shortlisted for the Taylor Wessing National Portrait Gallery Prize. Delali Ayivi will be presented by Galerie Number 8 at 1-54 New York 2023!