Ghanaian Photography Pioneer’s First Gallery Show Features Unseen Works from Colonial Era
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James Kobla Bruce-Vanderpuije, a prominent figure in Ghana’s history, was a prolific photographer who captured significant events and notable figures in the country’s pre and post-colonial era. One of his most iconic photographs was taken during the 1948 Accra riots, which played a pivotal role in Ghana’s journey to independence. He also photographed Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, during key moments in the country’s history.
Born in 1899, Bruce-Vanderpuije started his photography career as a hobby and later established the Deo Gratias Photo Studio in Jamestown, which has become the oldest operational studio in West Africa. Over the years, he documented the lives of diplomats, elites, and community leaders, creating an archive of over 50,000 images.
Despite facing challenges in preserving and digitizing the archive, Bruce-Vanderpuije’s granddaughter, Kate Aku Tamakloe, has worked tirelessly to categorize and showcase his work. Recently, a gallery exhibition dedicated to his photography, curated by Aida Muluneh, will be showcasing previously unseen images from the 1920s and 30s, shedding light on Ghana’s social and political identity during the colonial era.
The exhibition, titled “Unveiling the Shadows of the Past: J.K Bruce-Vanderpuije – The Hidden Icon of Photography,” aims to introduce a new audience to Bruce-Vanderpuije’s impactful images and contribute to telling the rich history of Ghana through his lens.
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Naz Baydar graduated from Middle East Technical University with a degree in Product Design. She furthered her education by completing a master’s degree in Art Direction at Elisava in Barcelona. Her work blends art direction, multimedia narratives, and design to craft innovative and transformative experiences. Naz is passionate about creating visual stories that evoke strong emotions and deliver meaningful impact. In addition to her work, she has a deep interest in philosophy and literature, which continuously inspire and enrich her creative process.