The exhibition Ré-imaginer le passé curated by Mahret Ifeoma Kupka, Isabel Raabe, Ibou C. Diop, and Malick Ndiaye, is on display at the KINDL — Centre for Contemporary Art until 28 July 2024. The artist Ibrahima Thiam is presenting his work called Déekilate, which was created in 2023 for the prior exhibition Ré-imaginer le passé at Dakar and consists of drywall, Baobab and Moringa trees, cactus, photographs, clay pots.

“Écoutez plus souvent les choses que les êtres” (“Listen more often to things than to beings”) writes the Senegalese writer Birago Diop in the poem Souffles. Ibrahima Thiam’s installation Déekilate draws inspiration from this quote and invokes the unseen powers of nature to foster a convergence between the sacred and art. Originally from Saint-Louis, Senegal, Thiam studied economics in Dakar before pursuing his passion for photography. In his artistic work, he explores themes of archives, memory, African oral tradition, and African myths and legends. The gods of the Lébou people are often a theme in his photographic practice. The installation features depictions of two such deities, Maam Njaré and Maam Ndeuk Daour, captured in Thiam’s photographs. At the heart of the installation stands the baobab tree, revered for its spiritual significance across many West African countries. The title of the work means “rebirth” in Wolof, the predominant language spoken in Senegal. Through this lens, the artist views his work as an invitation to healing and self-discovery, reconnecting with the earth and the spirits. It serves as an urging to rediscover traditional healing practices – such as the Ndeup, one of the most significant rituals still observed in Senegal today – along with exploring myths, legends, rituals, and spiritual knowledge.

Credits Text: KINDL — Centre for Contemporary Art