Benjamin Zephaniah exhibition opens in Birmingham

An exhibition celebrating the life of poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah has opened in his hometown.

The open-air exhibition “Benjamin Zephaniah – The Brighter Flame” is on display in Birmingham’s Victoria Square and Colmore Row until July 31.

The museum features more than 20 works of art displayed in cabinets as part of the city’s “100 Days of Creativity” program.

The poet, who was 65, died in December, eight weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The exhibition was developed and funded by the Colmore Business District and co-curated by Birmingham artist Pogus Caesar and art historian Ruth Millington.

It was created with the full support and recognition of the Zephaniah family, organizers said.

The exhibition features large-scale black-and-white photographs of Zephaniah taken by Caesar.

There are also a series of poems and photographs by Zephaniah and Caesar taken from their first large-scale project, “Handsworth 1985 Revisited”.

“The Brighter Flame exhibit is an incredible, iconic and beautiful tribute to Benjamin,” said a spokesperson for Zephaniah’s family.

“The flagpoles now flying high in the streets of Birmingham and the hoardings in Victoria Square capture the essence of what made Benjamin a truly inspiring and lovable man.

“They portray the many faces of Benjamin: the activist, the poet and author, the actor, the humanitarian, the voice of the marginalized and disadvantaged, and Benjamin the family man.

“The settings in the exhibition represent places in Birmingham city centre that he would have visited frequently and in our minds we can see him smiling on the streets of this fantastic exhibition.

“We feel it is a wonderful tribute for Benjamin, a son of Birmingham, to be honored in this special and unique way.”