Maximillian William presents John Edmonds’ first solo show in London from 4th March to 7th May 2024. The exhibition, titled One, brings together Edmonds’ black and white pieces from several bodies of work produced between 2016 and 2022.

According to Edmonds, a photograph has the power to transmit, acting as a bridge between reality and story. He describes his enduring fascination with photography as its “ability to assign life,” which allows it to transcend mere representation and instead animate perceptions of the masculine gaze.

One of Edmonds’ iconic Du-Rags series, on display in the show, focuses on headdresses and hoods as emblems of Black identity, portraying both the wearers and the garments as graceful, spiritual, and stunning. These works challenge prevalent notions of Black masculinity and point to alternative conceptions of power and identity.

Although Edmonds specialises in large-format colour photography, this exhibition features only his monochrome work. The artist’s investigation of black and white photography in particular as a medium, wherein the artist employs black as both form and content, began with Back with Scales and Shadows.

According to Edmonds, African sculpture explores relocation and dispossession since it represents both traditional cultural history and diasporic memory. Thanks to his wide range of subjects and techniques (using different forms, scales, colours, and mediums), this exhibition offers a chance to reflect on the artist’s body of work as a whole. An absolute must-see.