{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1259929"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1259929/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1259929","accessionNumber":"E.228-2013","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Untitled, HG-535-04","type":"assigned by artist"},{"title":"Headties","type":"series title"}],"summaryDescription":"Photographer J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere (1930-2014) was born in the village of Ovbiomu-Emai in Southwest Nigeria. He began to document Nigerian culture in 1967 while part of the arts council, which was established following the country’s independence from British colonial rule in 1960. \r\n\r\nHis photographs include examples of the elaborate headties traditionally worn by Nigerian women, known as ‘gele’. The standardised rear view format of Ojeikere’s photographs of gele link them to his larger series of modern and traditional Nigerian hairstyles photographed in the same way. Both series focus on the artistry of the forms created, which Ojeikere referred to as ‘sculptures for a day’. \r\n\r\nGele are traditionally tied at the back using asọ-oke; a stiff, hand woven cloth which can be manipulated to stand away from the head, creating dramatic shapes. The head wraps originate from the Yoruba people in Southwest Nigeria. They are now largely worn for ceremonial occasions. Yoruba culture places great emphasis on the head and both gele and hairstyling became ways to convey social status. \r\n\r\nThe V&amp;A acquired eight photographs by J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere documenting hairstyles and headties as part of the Staying Power project. Staying Power is a five year partnership between the V&amp;A and Black Cultural Archives. The project aims to explore black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s through photographs acquired by the V&amp;A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives. ","physicalDescription":"A black and white photograph of a black woman wearing an elaborate headtie seen from the back. The photograph is taken from the neck upwards against a plain background. The woman's head is tilted towards the left-hand side of the frame so that her eyelashes and an earring on her left side can be seen. She is wearing a silver chain necklace. Her headtie fits closely around the top of her head and is twisted into fanning folds and creases creating a jagged edged shape. The fabric appears silky with a circular pattern in places. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"J.D. Okhai Ojeikere","id":"AUTH322310"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"x43821"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"silver gelatin process","id":"AAT139114"},{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gelatin silver print","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"African Diaspora","id":"THES48873"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[{"text":"art photography","id":"AAT178594"},{"text":"documentary","id":"x37881"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"none","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"315","id":"THES49535"},"free":"","case":"R","shelf":"12","box":"L"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Nigeria","id":"x30055"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2004","earliest":"2004-01-01","latest":"2004-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"2012","earliest":"2012-01-01","latest":"2012-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"E.227-2013","id":"O1259928"},"association":"Series"},{"object":{"text":"E.229-2013","id":"O1259930"},"association":"Series"},{"object":{"text":"E.230-2013","id":"O1259931"},"association":"Series"}],"creditLine":"Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"30","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"30/09/2013","earliest":"2013-09-30","latest":"2013-09-30"},"part":"image","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"30","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"30/09/2013","earliest":"2013-09-30","latest":"2013-09-30"},"part":"image","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"38","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"30/09/2013","earliest":"2013-09-30","latest":"2013-09-30"},"part":"paper","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"38","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"30/09/2013","earliest":"2013-09-30","latest":"2013-09-30"},"part":"paper","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The V&A acquired this photograph as part of the Staying Power project. Staying Power is a five year partnership between the V&A and Black Cultural Archives. The project aims to explore black British experience from the 1950s to the 1990s through photographs acquired by the V&A and oral histories conducted by Black Cultural Archives.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photograph by J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, 'Untitled, HG-535-04', from the series <i>Headties</i>, gelatin silver print, Nigeria, 2004, printed 2012","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"This photograph was printed in Paris from the original negative, then sent to Nigeria for approval, then shipped to London","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"headties","id":"AAT258469"},{"text":"cloth","id":"AAT162391"},{"text":"earrings","id":"AAT45998"},{"text":"patterns","id":"AAT10143"},{"text":"woman","id":"x35642"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Text label for the exhibition, 'Staying Power: Photographs of Black British Experience, 1950s-1990s\r\n16 February – 24 May 2015\r\n\r\nJ.D. ’Okhai Ojeikere (1930 – 2014)\r\nHD-849/75 (Abebe); HD-176/70 (Fro Fro);\r\nHD-14/69 (Pineapple); HD-557/74 (Beri Beri)\r\nFrom the series Hairstyles\r\n1969 – 75\r\nUntitled, HG 423-04; Untitled, HG-535-04;\r\nUntitled, HG-457-04; Untitled, HG-689-05\r\nFrom the series Headties\r\n2004 – 5\r\nIn these photographs, Ojeikere documented traditional\r\nand modern hairstyles and headties worn by Nigerian\r\nwomen. He photographed his subjects using the same\r\nrear view perspective, focusing on the intricate patterns\r\nand shapes created by the hair and fabric. Ojeikere’s\r\nphotographs capture the artistry of the forms, which\r\nhe described as ‘sculptures for a day’.\r\n\r\nGelatin silver prints\r\nMuseum nos. E.227 to 234-2013","date":{"text":"16/02/2015-24/05/2015","earliest":"2015-02-16","latest":"2015-05-24"}}],"partNumbers":["E.228-2013"],"accessionNumberNum":"228","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2013,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2013-01-16","availableToBook":false}}