Vanley Burke is a British Jamaican photographer and artist. "Rivers of Birminam" is a photographic exploration that spans several decades, beginning in the 1960s. The series provides an intimate and honest look into the lives of the Caribbean immigrants who settled in Birmingham during the post-war period.
Through his lens, Burke captures candid moments, portraits, gatherings, and community events, effectively creating a visual narrative that preserves the heritage and identity of this community.
Burke’s collection of 100 black and white photographs chronicling 40 years of Caribbean heritage in Birmingham, was acquired by Birmingham Museums Trust in 2017.
For this video, he selected and talked about some of the "Rivers of Birminam" photographs. Vanley Burke talked to Katie Morton, Exhibition Team Leader at Birmingham Museums Trust at the Museum Collection Centre. The "Blood & Fire: Our Journey Through Vanley Burke's History" exhibition can be seen at the Soho House museum visitor center on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays until November 4, 2023. The open times are 11 am until 4 pm.
Images and archival material from his personal collection will take visitors on a journey through the artist’s history and the Black British experience. The exhibition is free, and donations are welcomed.
