April 2024 AIR: Lawrence Agyei
Lawrence introduces us to the South Shore Drill Team
Hi Lawrence! We are delighted to have you at the lab this month! I want to dive straight in. Can you tell us how you arrived at this part of your artistic journey, particularly documenting the South Shore Drill Team? And tell us a little about what DRILL is all about.
It is with great anticipation that I look forward to joining the lab. My journey began over a decade ago when my love for documentation, which started in my childhood, led me to a profound interest in photography. Renowned photographers such as Richard Avedon, Gordon Parks, and Dawoud Bey were my sources of inspiration. Their works fueled my desire to tell stories that resonated with me, and this eventually gave birth to DRILL. DRILL was inspired by performances I observed on television, the performers' uniforms, and their passion. For years, I searched for a photographic project about them, but to no avail. The seed of this idea was planted in 2018, but I didn't feel ready to pursue it then. However, in 2020, when Apple approached me for a project in Chicago, I reached out to the drill team to gauge their interest in participating. The completion of this project marked the beginning of my pursuit of DRILL. It was during the pandemic, a time when the world was at a standstill. For the first time, the drill team did not perform at the Bud Billiken Parade. Uncertainty prevailed, and there was doubt about whether they would ever return to the stage. But in early 2021, they received the call: the parade would proceed, and the drill team could perform once again.Following this, I decided to create a project documenting their journey back to the stage. I understood the significance of their performance, but more importantly, I wanted to capture the unity within the team.
How does your cross cultural background and interest in fashion and documentary work play a role in your new series DRILL?
My background significantly influenced my new series. My time in Italy fostered a deep appreciation for drill bands and their uniforms. Photographing these teams evoked fond childhood memories of witnessing similar performances in my hometown. Fashion-wise, I consistently utilize attire as a medium for conveying my message. When I observed the drill teams' uniforms, I felt an immediate surge of inspiration.
I am so curious about your use of black and white, what keeps you using that particular motif?
Before embarking on the Drill project, I immersed myself in Dana Lixenburg's Imperial Courts series in LA. I was captivated by her use of black and white photography. The aesthetic was strikingly beautiful. Drawing inspiration from this series, I decided to shoot Drill in black and white. This marked my first project into a project solely utilizing black and white imagery. In my early years of studying photographers, I found that many predominantly shot in black and white. I wanted to channel that same energy into my work..
The work really tells a story of this team’s close knit, intimate relationship. How do you as an outsider authentically look in and document this deep subject matter?
I invested time in building relationships with them. There were instances where I'd simply arrive, leave my camera aside, and engage in meaningful conversations to understand their narratives. This consistent interaction fostered a sense of closeness, which in turn, heightened their comfort level around me.
How has building relationships with the team been, since you’ve been with them for a couple years now?
It’s been really good and I’m excited for what’s to come.
Lawrence Agyei
Currently based in Chicago, Lawrence Agyei (b. 1990, Sassuolo, Italy) is a visual storyteller who draws inspiration from his cross-continental upbringing. His work is influenced by his multifaceted identity as a third-culture child, and touches upon notions of multiculturalism as a way to celebrate the juxtaposition between his Ghanaian heritage, Italian upbringing, and teenage and adult life in the American Midwest. He has had the pleasure of working with companies and publications, such as Apple, Nordstrom, Teen Vogue, Adobe, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times. His work has toured internationally in the exhibition "The New Black Vanguard," curated by Antwaun Sargent. Additional exhibitions include "The Promised Land at South Side Community Art Center" curated by Lola Ogbara and Creator Labs by Google. Agyei has been featured in i-D, Soho Magazine, among several other media outlets, and he has sat on panels at Apple and the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco. In 2020, Agyei was ranked among the “30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch” by i-D, and in 2022 he was awarded the Booooooom Photo Book Award for his photo series "DRILL." The accompanying exhibition to the book, "Lawrence Agyei: DRILL," will open at Blanc Gallery in Chicago in April 2024.