The Bamako & London projects are collaborative photography exhibitions between a UK-based curator and artist photographers from the UK and Mali in West Africa. The project connects both capital cities by drawing upon contemporary scenes from every day lives in London and Bamako through the medium of photographs and transcriptions of interviews.

in 2011...

In 2011, the thematic content of the exhibition documented and drew upon parallels between taxi drivers’ daily routines, families sharing meals together and friends’ conversations over cups of tea in Bamako and London, for example. The exhibition was hosted in London in May before travelling to Bamako last September. Participating artists were Diane Patrice in London and Alioune Bâ in Bamako and the project was curated by Sophie Mew in London.

in 2012...

In 2012 the topics in London – captured by Diane Patrice – address how money circulates, how it is used, saved, and spent in every day contexts around the city. In light of the recent coup d’état and political upheavals in Mali, our Bamako-based photographer artist – Harandane Dicko – exposes the effects of sanctions (imposed from 3-8 April 2012), economic insecurity and struggle in daily lives in Bamako today (the images in London and Bamako were taken during March/April 2012). In Dicko’s work, he counterbalances an image of teenagers playing card games to illustrate the continuity of daily life.

Sophie Mew, curator
Harandane Dicko, photographer
Diane Patrice, photographer
Evelyn Owen, curatorial support

In 2012, ‘Money in Bamako and London’ coincides with the opening of the new Citi Money Gallery at the British Museum and we are collaborating with the London Festival of Photography (www.lfph.org).

…a collaborative project of exchanges...