Ayan Abdi Explores Family and Identity in New Portrait Series

Ayan Abdi, a Somali-Norwegian photographer, has developed the project Family in Focus, exploring the concept of family across various countries and continents. The project examines intergenerational African experiences both within the continent and in the diaspora.

Ayan Abdi’s Background and Artistic Development

Ayan Abdi’s work incorporates photography and moving images, reflecting her experiences growing up in Somaliland, Oslo, and through international travel in Europe, Africa, and America. Her project Family in Focus has involved exploring contexts in Hargeisa, Oslo, Nairobi, Rio, and New York to document both biological and chosen familial relationships.

Abdi began using a camera to explore her curiosity about people and cultures from the age of 11. She has described herself as a “people person,” attributing this to her family and its influence on her understanding of the global African image.

Early Influences and Photographic Inspiration

During a trip to Egypt, Abdi became fascinated with her mother’s camera and began using it herself. While a creative career wasn’t explicitly encouraged, her family significantly influenced her artistic development. Abdi’s family frequently hosted relatives, and a photo album left behind by one of these visitors became a significant influence on her work. The album documented intergenerational connections spanning Norway, Somaliland, and England, providing Abdi with an early understanding of photography and a sense of inherited history.