I took this photo of Lia Samantha, an Afro-Colombian fashion designer, outside the National Museum of Colombia in Bogota in 2021. It is one of thousands of portraits I’ve taken in my mobile photo studio that goes all around the world.
My idea for the studio was inspired by the images and work of west African photographers such as Malick Sidibé, Seydou Keïta and Youssouf Sogodogo. I wanted to pay homage to those artists, as well as breathe life into the concept of mobile studios and portrait photography, which were so popular in Africa in the 50s and 60s.
My main inspiration was Sidibé, who captured portraits in black and white. I used to work with him in Mali, where I’m from, and on one of the last trips we did together, he told me he dreamed that one of his daughters would become a photographer and continue his photo studio. None were interested, however, and I didn’t want his work to die with him. His studio was his soul, his life’s joy.
In 2013, I was living in Senegal and decided to launch a mobile photo studio outside where I was living. People were really surprised when they walked past and saw something they thought no longer existed. The neighbours loved it and came with their families to get their portraits taken.
Since then, Studio Photo de la Rue, as it’s called, has been all over the world – Colombia, Brazil, Mali, China, Ethiopia, Senegal and France among other countries – and I’ve photographed more than 2,000 people. I’d love for it to become more well known and to do a world tour.
I use a black and white carpet for the background, and people can dress up, wear jewellery and traditional fabrics handwoven in west Africa. I also provide accessories I’ve picked up from around the world: old telephones, lamps, radios, vintage glasses, pipes and more.
When someone comes to the studio, I let them take the lead. Then I suggest poses as I take one or two series of photographs. Once the session has finished, people leave with a print in black and white.
I’ve had many memorable moments. In France, a woman came with a photo of her father taken in the 60s. She couldn’t believe that she could have a similar photo of herself taken in the present day.
In Senegal, I went to the beach with the mobile studio and photographed some Senegalese wrestlers. I’ve taken some beautiful portraits of young people in Mali who dressed up for the occasion.
I’ve noticed differences in people from the various places I’ve been around the world. We all have particular identities but there are also many points in common.
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People like to come to the studio because it’s rare these days to have photos that you’d normally only see in an exhibition. The experience makes people smile, it relaxes them and it’s fun. It creates a good energy at a time when that is missing.
There are people who come and say, “I’m ugly, I’m old, I’m this and that”. I say, “No! We all have value.” I tell them they will be transformed in the studio and I will portray them in a way they could never imagine. I want to create peace so that the experience touches people and encourages them to connect and get to know each other.
The world is in a terrible state, and it’s being destroyed by humans. It’s those same humans that can rebuild it and make it a better world through love, respect, consideration and collaboration. We shouldn’t ignore our common values.
As told to Sarah Johnson