Hier j'ai dansé avec la mer, aujourd'hui aussi, 2024
commissioned editorial for American Vintage © Souleymane Bachir Diaw
"The Sea within us echoes these memories" - curatorial text by Ndeye Filly Gueye
Everything is interconnected. Societies cultivate traditions to serve them as a deep connection between the past and present whether collectively or independently. In "Hier, j’ai dansé avec la mer, aujourd’hui aussi”, Souleymane Bachir Diaw keeps the relationship of sea and human at the heart. He extends the sea to spark conversations on well-being, community, and indigenous preservation, rooted in a study on restorative processes and nature's vital societal role.
Diaw draws memoirs of testimonies and commonality supported by his signatory visual narration with a humanizing touch filled with synergies. Here, Safi Niang incorporates movement direction and stylism to create a choreography of bodies binded by stories interlinked however different. Omar Pujo, Hortense Cynthia Brito Lima, Maboneza Mamert Junior, to Joshua, are all receptive to attest to these visits through the lens of Diaw. It could be the sand embracing the skin, the water washing away impurities, or sitting contemplating on life’s many beauties and challenges. Occasionally, a time travel to childhood resurfaces feelings of bliss, outdoor summers trips or customary visits to the ocean. Each summoned body comes for a moment of meditation, a shared moment with loved ones or alone. The warm, earthy tones of clothing covering each and everyone of them are carefully selected to embrace their distinctive stories and histories.
The ecocriticism concept englobes the cultivation of human culture in relation to the physical world. Each summoned body comes with a memoir and individuality creating souvenirs tucked away to revisit from time to time. Gatherings, visits, or retreats. As time passes, these lived moments become a memorabilia, serving as a compelling reminder of the significant trust or surrender to the unknown always intertwined in hope of finding solace regardless of the walks of life that lead to the sea. A soulful retreat.
With Villa Noailles in conjunction with Île de Porquerolles, he establishes a visual interplay between constructed history and natural continuity. These two lands offer an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate the history and heritage of Hyeres island in its natural, protected environment by its residents and visitors. The space itself becomes a narrative, where the manipulation of objects and the viewing of images create a layered, multisensory experience.
Extended version below
Shown at
- (currently) Hyères, France, October 2024 - January 2025, 39th edition of the International Hyères Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories
- Paris, France, September 2024 - American Vintage Shop
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