On 14 June 2017 the Grenfell Tower fire tragically took the life of 72 people. One of those was the young British-Ghanaian photographer Khadija Saye. Her work showed tremendous promise and her inclusion in the Diaspora Pavilion at the Venice Biennale had led her to receive critical acclaim. As a memorial to Khadija the 2021 Model Art Gallery created by @pallanthousegallery features a unique miniature print from her Crowned series, exploring the beauty, power and symbolism of Afro hairdos. All of the original prints were lost in the fire, except one print of this image which she had given to one of the trustees of Pallant House Gallery as a gift to say thank you as they had funded a bursary for Khadija to attend Okwei Ewenzur’s Biennale. Her Crowned series was exhibited @ingdiscerningeye in 2014, chosen by my fellow-selector that year @nicolagreenart and so I feel there is a potent connection to this work and its inclusion. When Colin Wiggins, a member of our Collections and Exhibitions advisory group, suggested Khadija’s inclusion in the model gallery the answer was there all along, and her estate kindly agreed to the photograph being part of the gallery. It seems fitting that she will forever be part of this time capsule of contemporary art alongside John Akomfrah, Michael Armitage, Lubaina Himid, Damien Hirst and Rachel Whiteread. Although diminutive in size, it is a resonant and moving piece and a testament to a talented artist who life was tragically cut short. #khadijasaye #khadijasayephotography #2021modelartgallery #masterpiecesinminiature #pallanthousegallery (at Pallant House Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQHIZMcFjM3/?utm_medium=tumblr
