Galerie ARTCO in Brussels is pleased to present “IDENTITIES“. An exhibition of new works by self-taught visual artist Saïdou Dicko running from May 8 to July 14, 2023. The artist unveils a passionate photographic art through portraits of characters as beautiful as they are curious against colorful imaginary or real backgrounds.
Born in Burkina Faso in 1979, Saïdou Dicko currently resides in Paris, where he continues to practice and refine his art. As a Peuhl shepherd, he began producing his first sketches as a child, collecting the shadows of his sheep on the Sahel floor. To this day, his photographs feature the darkness of the body, adding a unique visual touch to his creations. In 2005, Saïdou Dicko took up photography for good, and six months after his entry into the world of artistic photography, he presented his first exhibition at the Biennale Off de Dakar in 2006. This artistic event enabled him to win a prize, the first of many.
Since then, his work has been presented at numerous international art events such as international fairs, art biennales and exhibitions. In 2012, he co-founded the “Rendez-Vous d’Artistes” collective, a nomadic platform where several figures from the art world interact, and in 2013 became an exhibition curator and scenographer, notably in Morocco. Also a photographer, video artist, installation artist and painter, Saïdou Dicko nourishes his art through his travel experiences and diverse inspirations. Indeed, the artist’s many expeditions around the world have enabled him to observe the world in its entirety and use it as a basis for his photographic creations.
“IDENTITIES” is an exhibition featuring portraits of characters photographed by Saïdou Dicko during his travels in West Africa, reflecting facets of his identity as well as his perception of the world. Through these photographs, he reshapes and brings to life visual phenomena, psychological and physical events, while emphasizing the duality of the contrast between black and white. Through this surprising combination, Saïdou Dicko explores themes such as equality, maternal love, union, humanity and freedom.
The “IDENTITIES” exhibition presented at Galerie ARTCO in Brussels is a discovery of Saïdou Dicko‘s advanced artistic technique. The art space unveils inspiring new works by the artist with poetic and poignant reflections that plunge the public into a silent admiration of the world through Saïdou Dicko‘s photographic lens.