Joana Choumali

Aïssa Dione Gallery, Dakar

Acquired from the above in 2015

Hââbré, in the Kô language of Burkina Faso, signifies both "writing" and "scarification." In this eponymous photographic series, Joana Choumali explores the final generation bearing traditional scarification of the region. Through her lens, she captures the faces and unexpectedly expressive upper backs of her subjects.

Choumali's series prompts reflection on the interplay between past and present in contemporary Africa. The tradition of scarification is rapidly vanishing in West Africa, pressured by religious and governmental authorities, urbanization, and the influence of Western attire. This dwindling group, marked by the echoes of tradition on their skin, has transitioned from societal acceptance to a state of marginalization.

Yet, beyond the shared facial scarring, Choumali's intimate portraiture manages to capture each individual personality and nod to an individual life story. In the present lot, though the black and white exposure heightens the presence of the scaring, the individualism of the women shines through.

'For the project, I created studio portraits, using the same background and same lighting for each subject. My wish was to portray them in a neutral way, with no judgment. All of my subjects hail from the city of Abidjan.'

-The Artist, The Lens Cultures (online)  

Having studied graphic arts in Casablanca before pursuing a career in advertising, Choumali came to photography later in her career. The artist's fascination with photographs began as a child in Abidjan when her family hired a photographer to take their family portrait. Choumali began to experiment with photography from 2011, but it was not until the terrorist attacks of the Grand-Bassam on Sunday 13th March 2016 that the artist began to fully dedicate herself to the medium. Believing in the healing power of photography, the process remains an emotional one, as Choumali draws a parallel between the many layers present within her works and within her emotions and memories.

Choumali has exhibited her works in the Ivory Coast at the Musée des Civilisations and the Palais de la Culture, as well as internationally at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art from Africa (South Africa), the Fondation Blachère (France), and at the Bamako International Photography Biennale (Mali), amongst others.