Unfiltered Perspective on Liz Johnson Artur's 'Black Balloon Archives'
Liz Johnson Artur's revolutionary name was inspired by "Black Balloons," a song by American soul singer Syl Johnson from his '70s album, "Is It Because I'm Black." The lyrics, "Black balloons fill the air, black balloons, they're everywhere," echo Johnson Artur's encapsulating visual documentation of her self-proclaimed "black diaspora"-a term colorfully expressed in her extensive body of work.
Born to a Russian mother and a Ghanaian father in Bulgaria, Johnson Artur migrated to West Germany as a child before venturing to the United States in her 20s. In Brooklyn's vibrant, predominantly black neighborhood–a stark contrast to her earlier life–she developed a fresh curiosity for photography. Her early images capture raw moments of daily life, notably drawing on the openness of her subjects who welcomed her lens into their spaces and experiences.
Her portraits are less about explaining her intentions and more about encouraging viewers to engage in their own introspection. With a limited use of captions, her candid images avoid pretentiousness and instead challenge viewers to decipher the nuances hidden within each frame. From children in religious attire to women dressed in traditional attire, musicians, models, and everyday individuals, Johnson Artur’s camera captures diverse faces and experiences within the black diaspora.
In recent years, Johnson Artur has gained substantial recognition for her profound documentation. In 2021, the Rencontres d'Arles and Kering honored her with the Women in Motion Award for photography-an exhibit of her work at Tate Modern in London further solidified her place among influential contemporary artists.
As her name surfaces with growing interest, Johnson Artu staying humble and focused on her craft. She's quick to share, "My job is the job of many people. There's no overarching agenda. It's about people and encounters."
This informal, candid relationship with her subjects and subjects is not just camera-friendly but rather cultivates a sense of mutual vulnerability and unmistakable authenticity. Through the lens of the 'Black Balloon Archives,' Johnson-Artur captures her subjects as they are, devoid of judgment or bias–a rare and refreshing portrayal of diverse black diasporic experiences through the decades.
