
Carlos Idun-Tawiah Ghanaian, b. 18/5/1997
.
81.3 x 81.3 cm / 32 x 32 in
.
In Carlos Idun-Tawiah's evocative photograph "Broken Bread," captured in Accra, Ghana in 2024, we witness the tender choreography of familial intimacy. Two figures share afternoon tea at a small table draped in delicate white lace, their silhouettes outlined against sun-drenched walls where light filters through French doors, casting the entire moment in golden warmth that speaks to both temporal beauty and eternal human connection.
This photograph belongs to Idun-Tawiah's acclaimed series "Hero, Father, Friend," a deeply personal exploration of Black fatherhood and the archives of memory. Born in 1997, the Ghanaian photographer has established himself as a master of visual storytelling that seamlessly weaves together fiction and non-fiction, past and present, memory and imagination. His work draws profound inspiration from Africa's rich photographic archives while reimagining its dynamic landscapes through an authentically African lens.
The composition reveals Idun-Tawiah's signature aesthetic sensibilities: careful attention to vintage styling, warm color palettes that evoke nostalgic family albums, and deliberate staging that blurs boundaries between documentary truth and constructed narrative. The photograph captures what the artist describes as "mundane moments that never made the family album" yet constitute the essence of familial bonds. Here, breaking bread becomes both literal and metaphorical, representing communion, hospitality, and the passing down of traditions between generations.
The setting carries cultural weight within Ghanaian contexts, where shared meals represent far more than sustenance. They embody community, respect, and the continuation of cultural practices binding families across time. The careful arrangement of the tea service, the formal posture of the subjects, and the domestic intimacy all speak to Idun-Tawiah's ability to capture what he calls "an archive of love, joy, community and hope."
This photograph exemplifies the photographer's commitment to celebrating Black beauty while challenging traditional narratives about African life. Through his lens, ordinary moments become extraordinary testimonies to resilience, grace, and profound humanity characterizing contemporary Ghanaian experience. The image invites viewers into reflection on universal themes of family, legacy, and the precious nature of shared time, continuing his vital work of filling gaps in visual archives while creating images that honor both individual memory and collective cultural heritage.
Join our mailing list
* denotes required fields
We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.