Costume Society News Editor Dr Babette Radclyffe-Thomas reviews Selah by Gabriel Moses at 180 Studios.
The largest ever exhibition of British Nigerian photographer and filmmaker Gabriel Moses is open at London exhibition space 180 Studios. Over 70 photographs and 10 films from across Moses’ career are on show, showcasing his work in fashion, music and sport including the premiere of new work.
Selah, which in biblical terms means to pause and reflect, marks the second time 180 Studios has showcased Moses’ work. His debut solo exhibition Regina was in 2023 and on reflecting on this 2023 show, Moses’s says “I’ve grown a lot in those two years. I’ve developed more as an artist. For me, it was important to create a show that felt so much more immersive and interactive.”
Born in South London, Moses’s work is rooted in his British Nigerian heritage, and he has become renowned for a distinct aesthetic of a rich colour palette and minimal contextual detail. He has worked with some of the world’s leading fashion brands and publications including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Dior, Vogue and i-D.
Selah is spread across two expansive basement floors and covers 16 large rooms. Reflecting on the need to create long-lasting impact, Moses says: “I’m very passionate about building a legacy. I think about how I’m going to look at myself in the next 25-30 years and having a body of work that when I’m not here anymore, my kids can see that their dad actually made sure there was a solid body of work that could speak on my behalf”.
The exhibition includes portraits of designer Slawn, rapper Skepta, model Alek Wek, footballer Jude Bellingham, films and music videos such as Fein by Travis Scott, and an exclusive new series of photographs on show for the first time here. The exhibition also premieres a new short film, The Last Hour, which was commissioned by 180 Studios and follows the journey of one man with just 24 hours left to live.
Visitors enter the exhibition by walking down a slope into an exposed brick basement room, with a film projected above them on a large screen. Each rooms displays a mix of film, still images and even sculpture and the layout is generously expansive. As it the entire exhibition is hosted in basement rooms, the design of the exhibition rooms is incredibly dark at points. Naturally, music and sound fill the exhibition and there is a melange of different sizes of screens, projection styles and room layouts. There is rarely contextual information in the films or captions by images or videos, a deliberate decision designed to encourage viewers to focus on the exchange between the artist, subject and their inner sentiments.
With vignettes, short films, still images, mixed media, sculpture all on show, and visitors could easily spend several hours here. The exhibition is curated by Katja Horvat in collaboration with 180 Studios, with spatial design by Emilia Margulies and graphic identity designed by Jayda Deans.
Selah runs until 30 July 2025.
