Mike Eghan, Piccadilly Circus
Photograph
1967 (photographed), 2011 (printed)
1967 (photographed), 2011 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Born in 1929, Ghanaian photographer James Barnor documented the shift towards modern living as experienced by black people in both Africa and Britain. Barnor’s photograph of the BBC’s first black broadcaster, Mike Eghan, on the steps of the landmark Piccadilly Circus fountain cements the emergence of a black cultural presence in Britain. This confident arrival is combined with a backdrop of neon advertising, which had made a lasting impression on Barnor since he first moved to London in 1959.
The V&A acquired five photographs by James Barnor 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.
The V&A acquired five photographs by James Barnor 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.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Mike Eghan, Piccadilly Circus (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Gelatin silver print |
| Brief description | Photograph by James Barnor, 'Mike Eghan, Piccadilly Circus', gelatin silver print, London, 1967, printed 2011, ed. 2/10 |
| Physical description | Black and white photograph of a black man wearing a fur coat on the steps of the Eros statue at Piccadilly Circus in London. The man has his arms outstretched, smiling and looking at the camera, as he balances on the steps beside the fountain base of the statue. In the background there are various neon signs and billboards advertising products such as; 'PICCADILLY THEATRE: LIONEL BART'S OLIVER! LONDONS LONGEST RUNNING MUSICAL; PRICES 6/6 TO £1', 'THE WORLDS ONLY ELECTRONIC WRIST TIMEPIECE: BULOVA ACCUTRON', 'CLASSIC CINEMA: MICHAEL CAINE IN 'FUNERAL IN BERLIN''. DELICIOUS COCA-COLA - REFRESHING; THINGS GO BETTER WITH COKE', 'DAVID LEANS SPECTACULAR GIANT: DOCTOR ZHIVAGO; 2ND TRIUMPHNT YEAR' and 'BOAC VC10; TRIUMPHANTLY SWIFT, SILENT, SERENE', among others. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Limited edition |
| Marks and inscriptions | Signed 'JAMES BARNOR 1967/2011' bottom right of image and 'ED 2/10' lower right, verso. |
| Credit line | Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. |
| Object history | 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. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | Born in 1929, Ghanaian photographer James Barnor documented the shift towards modern living as experienced by black people in both Africa and Britain. Barnor’s photograph of the BBC’s first black broadcaster, Mike Eghan, on the steps of the landmark Piccadilly Circus fountain cements the emergence of a black cultural presence in Britain. This confident arrival is combined with a backdrop of neon advertising, which had made a lasting impression on Barnor since he first moved to London in 1959. The V&A acquired five photographs by James Barnor 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. |
| Associated objects | |
| Other number | 2/10 - Limited Edition Number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.103-2012 |
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| Record created | January 31, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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