Africa's Icon portrays affection for Barack Obama as US Presidential Election begins

Exhibition Preview: Obama – Africa's Icon, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, until November 11 2012

If nothing else, Barack Obama has proved himself a photogenic President. But rather than portray the man who hopes to retain the White House this week, Harry Hook – a filmmaker and photographer who was born in East Africa and studied at The London College of Printing and the National Film School – has travelled across Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burkino Faso and Mali, surveying a totemic influence.

He sees Obama on walls, clothing and jewellery. The continent’s affection for Obama, he suggests, surpasses political favouritism.

Children are dressed in shirts bearing the President’s smile, investing him with an all-seeing power allaying the brief nature of his visits to Africa during his reign so far (totalling a day in Egypt and two days in Ghana, both in 2009).

The attraction, Hook concludes, is in the common touch of a fellow African who happens to have the most powerful job in the world.

• Open 9.30am-5.30pm (11am-5pm Sunday). Admission free. Follow the gallery on Twitter @RWABristol.

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