Exhibition celebrating island’s African community to open

Monday 03 June 2024

Local photographer Aaron Yeandle has captured more than 100 portraits that celebrate the blossoming African community in the island.

An exhibition opens on Wednesday 5 June at the Art for Guernsey Gallery in Mansell Street Gallery which seeks to raise awareness and honour the diversity this new population has brought to Guernsey.

It is intended to be a positive reflection of our ever-changing communities, shining a light on the rich cultures and heritage that these individuals bring from their respective African homelands.

Aaron Yeandle is an international award-winning fine art documentary photographer who has been photographing Guernsey's communities for 10 years.

His intimate portraits feature people who live and work on the island, with many of them taken in the sitters' homes, showing their private environments.

"The Art for Guernsey team is very excited about this exhibition, which fits perfectly with our ethos of applying art to deliver wider societal, educational or community values," said Art for Guernsey founder David Ummels.

"We look forward to extending a warm welcome to the recently settled African community, and thank Carey Olsen for coming on board as our headline sponsor. The depth and breadth of roles that people from Africa have taken on in the community is impressive - from accounting, law and hospitality to audit and trust services and the third sector."

"They have brought a new vigour to our economy, fulfilling key vacancies that were crucial for the good functioning of Guernsey Plc. Moreover, they are bringing an added diversity and cultural richness to the island that will undoubtedly make our community even more vibrant."

Mr Yeandle said: "I have had the privilege of creating the African Guernsey Community Project over the past three years, working closely with the vibrant African communities on the island.

"This journey has allowed me to meet many fascinating individuals from various African countries, each bringing their own rich and diverse cultures to the project. Throughout this time, the African communities have shown immense generosity with their time and support.

"It has been an honour to contribute to this important social heritage body of work, which will now be preserved as part of Guernsey's archival history.

"Furthermore, I am thrilled to exhibit with Art for Guernsey, their support and hard work have been invaluable. I am excited to share this significant photographic event with all the communities of Guernsey, through this remarkable collaboration."

The exhibition will run from 5 June to 26 June, and on Friday 14 June Art for Guernsey and their friends from the island's African community will be hosting a Community Party to extend a warm welcome to everyone who took part in the project. The charity will also be inviting their members and supporters.