Ibrahima Thiam

Born in 1976 in Saint-Louis, Senegal, Ibrahima Thiam moved to Dakar where he studied economics. Following a workshop organized by the Goethe-Institut during Photo Month in Dakar in 2009, he discovered a passion for photography. Self-taught, he is interested in memory, archives, african orality as well as myths and legends. For several years, Ibrahima Thiam collected images, some of which came from his family archives, which helped to forge his imagination. Among his many works, we can cite: “Le mur qui parle” (2015), “Les clichés d'hier” (2015), Portraits “Vintage” (2014-2015), “Reflets” (2014), “L' Usure du Temps ”(2010),“ Reflets, pieds dans l'eau, Saint-Louis ”(2010).

For a few years now, he has developed a practice that highlights the divinities of the Lébou communities. Its spirits, which are both the object of tranquility and fear, and which act on the Senegalese coast as sentinels, are at the heart of the legends, which have always rocked the evenings of these communities. His research focuses in particular on Maam Njaré Jaw from Yoff, after some work devoted to “Maam Coumba Bang” (2018) and “Maam Ndeuk Daour Mbaye”, (2020).

His work has been featured in several national and international group exhibitions, including: “The View From Here: Contemporary Perspectives From Senegal”, Zuccaire Gallery, SUNY Stony Brook University, New York, USA (2019), “Bronx: Africa” , Longwood Art Gallery, Hostos Community College, New York, United States (2016) as well as “Telling Time” during the 10th edition of the Rencontres de Bamako, Biennale Africaine de la Photographie (2015),

He lives and works between Saint-Louis and Dakar.