Viewing Misan Harriman: The Purpose of Light at Hope 93 Gallery

British-Nigerian photographer, filmmaker, activist, and cultural commentator Misan Harriman is known for his socially and politically engaged works, notably his black and white documents of the Black Lives Matter protests of the summer of 2020, the same year he made history as, the first Black man to shoot a series of iconic covers for British Vogue, portraits of 18 prominent activists.

Harriman’s newly opened solo exhibition The Purpose of Light at Hope93 Gallery (until September) extends an invitation to come together, to think and to dare to dream of better. Through more than 100 photographs, Harriman considers the meaning of protest and solidarity in the contemporary age ravaged by conflict, devastation and division. These pictures are witness to Black Lives Matter marches in London and Minneapolis, to vigils for the victims of Grenfell Tower, to outcries for justice in Sudan, to the cries of solidarity for the people of Congo, and most recently, the massive global movement in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

For Harriman, these photographs emerge not only as proof but as a collective testament to the power of people speaking out against injustice and a global resistance. Seen together, it’s a stirring and profoundly moving experience, considering the role we all play in society and in making change.