1. Biography

2. Photography series
     Handy Hands    The Masked Women    Great Expectations    Monankim    Community and Courage  

3. Exhibitions

4. Awards

5. References

Aken currently resides in Lagos, Nigeria.^[3][4]

Biography

Aken grew up in the small village of Ikom Aluk in Cross River State. She suffered the death of her mother at a young age and her father was not an influencer in her life. Her father and her parted ways as he only believed in traditional education while she preferred to pursue a career in music. She wrote songs inspired by her life experiences, one song being titled "Make It Through The Race." After her short stint in music she went on to try acting but soon put that aside as well. She eventually got her first break at the Vilsco Fashion Show and recognized the harsh realities of women in the modelling industry. It was her experiences in modeling that brought her to a career in photography.^[5]

She enrolled in the Market Photo workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa but was not able to complete the courses as she discovered opportunities in the British Council Model of the Year competition. She returned home to participate in the MTN Lagos Fashion & Design Week. While she stopped short of completing her photography classes, she told Pulse.ng "I will go back to complete my photography school. I know photography and modeling are both heavy tasks to undertake but I have passion for both and will do both concurrently for as long as I can," in an interview. Aken has seen success in photography regardless of finishing classes by participating in the Lagos Photo Festival.^[5]

Photography series

Handy Hands

This photo series documents women in Berlin, Germany as they struggle to fit into "specified" roles of women in society. The images show a series of women pursuing careers that historically men have dominated. The women in the photos feel strongly about their career and are confident in the work they are doing regardless of the gender gap.^[6]{{Better source|date=March 2019}}

The Masked Women

This is a black and white, self-portrait series meant to depict women and their social roles in Nigerian culture. The images depict the peace and self-fulfillment of a women without the stigmatized overarching views of women in a Nigerian culture. The images also explore how women can feel constrained by the stereotypes of what a "proper women" should act like in society. These photos are meant to exemplify women who have broken these stigmas but feel isolated by the norms of the society. In this series Aken hopes to inspire Nigerian women to practice their freedom regardless of external stereotypes.^[7]

Great Expectations

Inspired by Charles Dickens', Great Expectations, Akens created this series to illustrate the pressures on women, specifically African, to get married.^[2][8] Akens attempts to show how even the most successful women can feel unsuccessful until they are married due to social pressures.^[9][10]

Monankim

This photo series by Aken is based on a tradition ritual called Monankim that originates from the Bakor minority tribes. Monankim is a tradition in the Bakor culture that circumcises women and then celebrated as it is a symbol of entering womanhood.^[1] This tradition is seen as a right of passage and a woman is idolized after completing the process.^[1] This tradition is controversial^[11] as the process is dangerous and life-threatening. Aken documents the opposing views of Monankim by women in the society.^[1] While some see the process as exciting, others feel hesitant toward the idea.^[1]

Community and Courage

This photo series is set at a beach called Takwa Bay which is a popular place for refugees who swim and surf. Takwa Bay is known for allowing wide ranges of people to interact. The photos in this series depict how community and courage are both required in sports as the photos show children playing together regardless of societal background.^[12]{{Better source|date=March 2019}}

Exhibitions

• Seven Days in the Life of Lagos, Lagos Photo Festival, Nigeria, 2012
• Femme Fatale: Deconstructing the Politics of Sexuality, The Third Female Artists’ Exhibition, African Artist Foundation (AAF), Nigeria, 2014^[13]
• Joburg Art Fair, South Africa, 2014{{cn|date=March 2019}}
• The Masked Woman, LagosPhoto Festival, Nigeria, 2014^[14]
• The Masked Woman at Grid CapeTown Biennale, South Africa, 2015^[15]
• Find Us on the Map, group show, Rush Art Gallery, Chelsea, New York City, 2016^[16][17]
• Great Expectations, LagosPhoto Festival, Nigeria, 2016^[2]
• Waiting for the Connection, with Alice Gauntlett, Closer Than Ever group show, Art Meet Camera, CapeTown, South Africa, 2017^[18]

Awards

• Model of the Year 2011, MTN/British Council^[19]

References

• Turkey men's national ice hockey team
• Turkey (nation)
• Turkey national football team
• Turkey, NC
• Turkey, North Carolina
• Turkey oak
• Turkey/People
• Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station
• Turkey Run State Park
• Turkeys
• Turkey shoot
• Turkey Stearnes
• Turkey Street railway station
• Turkey, Texas
• Turkey/Transportation
• Turkey trot (dance)
• Turkey, TX
• Turkey vulture
• Turkey vultures
• Turk ffvii
• Turkharistan
• Turki al Faisal
• Turki Al Faisal
• Turki bin Abdullah
• Turki bin Faisal