Delali Ayivi is a Togolese and German photographer. Delali was born in the US in Baltimore but grew up in Germany. At the Age of 15 she moved to Lilongwe in Malawi. After finishing high school, Delali moved to London to enroll at University of the Arts London. Delali started by photographing her friends and Family in Germany, Togo and Malawi. Finding her great-great-grandfather´s work, one of the first Togolese photographers Alex A. Acolatse, inspired Delali to document her surroundings with a focus on fashion.
Delali is now based between London and Lomé.
In 2019, Delali created a project called Togo Yeye in collaboration with her friend and Curator Malaika Nabillah who lives in Lomé. The aim of the project is to create work that hopes to document and empower their creative community at home and in the diaspora, trough creative vision and direction.
TogoYeye’s works were exhibited at the PhotoVogue Festival in 2021 and 2022 and 2023. Togo Yeye was further recognized by PhotoVogue and Studio RM, in form of an Artist Grant, to further their creative mission. In 2022 The project was awarded the pH Museum New Generation Prize. A commissioned solo exhibition titled Racines de L’Imaginaire has been on view at the Palais de Lomé in Togo since February 2022 looking at historic Togolese hair dressing practices. Nataal Issue 3 featured Delali’s work with Togo Yeye on their cover the same year. The Fashion Story spotlighted a range of young designers From Togo. In 2023 Delali was commissioned by Photo Vogue and Puig to create original work for that year Photo Vogue festival, with the Togo Yeye community.
In 2020 Delali used the opportunity of an extended stay in Germany - due to the Covid Pandemic - to research into her own childhood experiences and the lives of other Black Germans. This research resulted into two relating series: Heimat (In Quarantine) and Reflections on “Heimat”. Both series look at the idea of the German “Homeland” and the dual meaning this term has for people of color in the country, resulting in a constant state between familiarity and dispute to their right to exist. The same year Delali was featured on It’s Nice That as one of their spotlighted graduates.
The series Heimat (In Quarantine) was awarded the Foam Talent award in 2021 and one portrait of her brothers was exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2021. The Series Reflections on “Heimat” was featured on Vogue Germany. In 2022 Delali photographed the first politician on the Cover of Vogue Germany and the first Black German Minister Aminata Touré for the December Issue. The same year Delali was named as one of the Dazed 100 Talents. In May 2023, three of Delali’s works including her images with TogoYeye, will be exhibited as part of the 1-54 African Art Fair in New York and London, and Delali was honored by the British Fashion Council, by being selected as one of 2023’s NEW WAVE Creatives.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Delali Ayivi’s work focuses on contributing to a diversified image of Togolese and German identities and communities as well as wider Black populations globally. Through the use of color, movement and fashion, Delali creates utopic visions, standing in contrast to outdated singular narratives especially of Togo and its Diaspora. Delali hopes to reclaim and challenge historical and contemporary narratives. Her work created with Togo’s youth speaks to the power of collective imagination as well as the progress that comes with valuing individualism. Delali has come to understand especially fashion as a symbol and vessel of such, which is why styling plays a big role in Delali’s work.
AWARDS
British Fashion Council : NEW WAVE CREATIVES 2023
pH Museum New Generation Prize, 2022
National Portrait Gallery Shortlist / Exhibitor, 2021 Foam Talent, 2021
ITS NICE THAT GRADUATE, 2020