Hycide Magazine Golden Triangle Celebration

February 15, 2012

Writer: Christopher Etienne

Crowds and cameras spread throughout the Ajirah art center, in Newark NJ for Hycide Magazine's Second Annual Golden Triangle Celebration commemorating the magazine's second year anniversary.

Akintola Hanif, Editor in Chief of Hycide Magazine, was one of the honorary guests present for the occasion.

Hanif claims that the goal of his urban photography magazine is to show the broader aspects of his community while promoting the observation of urban lifestyles through a less biased, and stereotypical lens.

“I’m just trying to paint a well rounded picture that reflects the dichotomy and duality that exist within all people…I'm trying to hold up a mirror and get people to see the things that they ignore”

The white setup accompanied alongside captivating photography and artwork represented the urban style of Hycide Magazine.

Hanif also said, “I think that people need to look past stigmas and statistics... the only way we can see this is if you get to know people. You can't see that by...hearing it off the news stories... I just want people to see the similarities in strangers that they see in themselves"

Raymond Cheley, a fellow journalist and attendee at the art show stated, “When an event like this happens every one should be posting pictures on Instagram and Facebook, sharing and talking about it… if people know that this exists, they could generate some positive interest despite all of the negative connotations attached to inner-city areas like Newark.”

Mr. Cheley continued, signifying the importance of this event and magazine, “this is a magazine geared toward what people in society consider negative. A magazine that goes into the "slums," the "hoods," goes into the negative areas, and finds beauty there. The spirit of that message is at this show".

As the show came to a close Akintola Hanif and members of his team, The Golden Triangle, represented themselves as a refreshing group of photographers with a clear focus; to properly represent the misrepresented in today's society from areas such as India, Philadelphia, Newark, New York, etc. and to tell their stories through a professional artistic lens.