On Friday, the night of the launch, 174 people came through the door at LCB Depot to see Aworan: African Lenses. They made enquiries, they looked closely at the work, and they stayed to talk. The CameraBoss filmed the evening, and I have put the film at the top of this post so you can see the room as it was.
The opening of Aworan: African Lenses, filmed by The CameraBoss. 1 min 34 sec.
On now. Aworan: African Lenses runs until 10 October 2026 at Lightbox Gallery, LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1RE. Free entry, Monday to Friday 11am - 5pm, and also open Saturday 10 October. Details and RSVP.
174 people, one gallery
A launch is a different animal from a normal gallery day. People arrive together, they greet each other in the doorway, and the room fills with conversation before anyone has really looked at a picture. The photographs from the night show guests at every wall and clustered by the windows.
The film catches that well. It opens in black and white on a close shot of me in the room, then moves through the gallery as people turn from frame to frame. There is not much talking in it, and I like that. What you see is faces in front of photographs, which is the whole point of the exhibition.
What the film shows
I watched it several times before writing this, and a few moments stay with me:
- The first seconds. A black-and-white opening shot, the word Aworan written across the frame, and then the gallery in full colour.
- The conversations. Small groups pausing at a single frame, pointing, leaning in, one person explaining what they see to another.
- The warmth. Hugs and handshakes between friends who had not seen each other in a while, and strangers becoming friends over a photograph.
- The family. Children in the room, with their parents beside them.
- The ending. The room fades to black and the Aworan mark appears, with a line of credit beneath it.
The people behind the numbers
I will not pretend 174 is only a figure. Each of those visits was someone who gave a Friday evening to my work, whether a friend who came to support me or a stranger who stopped in front of a portrait.
That is the thing I keep coming back to. The word Aworan means “image” in Yoruba. A launch is where an image first meets its audience, and the audience answers back.
Thank you
To everyone at LCB Depot who made the room possible, to The CameraBoss team for the film and the photographs, and to everyone who turned up on the night: thank you. The exhibition continues, and it is free to visit until 10 October.
If you could not make it on Friday, read about the first day, then come and see the work in person. There is a full visitor guide here.
Common questions
How many people came to the Aworan launch?
174 people walked through the door at the launch on Friday 25 September 2026, after 170 visitors on the first day of the exhibition.
Where can I watch the launch film?
It is at the top of this page, and also on YouTube. It runs for 1 minute 34 seconds.
Can I still visit the exhibition?
Yes. It is open Monday to Friday 11am - 5pm until 10 October 2026, and also on Saturday 10 October, with free entry.
Where did the launch photographs come from?
From the Camera Boss photographers on the night. You can see the full set in the online gallery.
Work with me. For fine-art prints and exhibition enquiries, contact me here. For weddings, editorial and lifestyle photography across the UK and Nigeria, visit CameraBoss.co.uk.