Artist's Corner:

‘Baygo’ – The Sax Player; A photograph by Franco Chen to celebrate Black History Month 2021

2nd October 2021, 12am

To mark BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2021, each week, in our Artist’s Corner we’ll bring you images from the local photographer Franco Chen. Born in Jamaica, of Chinese heritage, Franco became resident photographer at the Irish Cultural Centre when it opened in 1995. He has taken hundreds of photographs of many of the bands and artists who performed here over the years and he’s captured so many ICC magical moments.

Throughout Black History Month 2021, we will bring you some of Franco’s photos of our wonderful friends in the Black Community and we’ll give you a glimpse of Franco’s unique eye and intuitive gift as a portrait and event photographer and as a London street photographer.

This first image of is of the saxophone player ‘Baygo’.  A great friend of the ICC, he is well known throughout Hammersmith and Fulham for busking on the streets, playing wonderful tunes on his glistening saxophone, always smiling and spreading joy to local people. Baygo has also played live on stage at the ICC, as a support act many, many times.

See in the gallery an Image of Franco Chen and also an image of Franco with Baygo, when they both attended the funeral of the late great Broadcaster, Writer and Racial Justice Campaigner Darcus Howe.

We wish Franco, Baygo and all our great Black friends the most wonderful Black History Month!!