MALICK BODIAN
In Sénégal, Voyage Temporel, the artist invites us to escape while reflecting on the beauty and uniqueness of his traditions
For four consecutive years, Senegalese photographer Malick Bodian travelled across his native country, guided by an instinctive curiosity and a desire to understand place through encounter. The journey began in Casamance. During a visit to his father, Bodian met his grandmother for the first time and witnessed the Diola initiates’ training ceremony−a convergence of personal discovery and cultural ritual that would shape the direction of his work. This moment marked the beginning of an introspective and artistic undertaking, one that unfolded through sustained travel and attentive observation. Working within a documentary framework, Bodian uses photography as a means of bearing witness to the people and environments he encounters. His images are grounded not in spectacle, but in proximity and intention−a practice rooted in connection to land, lineage, and lived experience rather than purely aesthetic pursuit.
Inspired by analogue colour photography, Bodian also keeps a second camera to capture the same shot in black and white. Only later, during the editing process, did he recognize what had been present all along: his images convey an unintended yet undeniable timelessness. Beyond simple documentation, his photographs celebrate ancestral ways of life and the intimate rhythms of Senegalese communities, preserving moments untouched by modern uniformity. It is these black-and-white images that Bodian has chosen to showcase in his first exhibition on the African continent. Initially conceived for a Senegalese audience, the show offers a visual journey through the country−a celebration of collective memory and a bridge between past and present. Sénégal, Voyage Temporel which translates Senegal Time Travel is a contemplative exploration of family, tradition, and the passage of time. Bodian’s work is informed by the pioneers of 1970s West African studio portraiture, notably James Barnor, as well as Magnum photographers, particularly Raymond Depardon. His own photography unfolds like a journey across his homeland, pausing to capture fleeting moments of beauty, quiet synchronicity, and the textures of everyday life.
''Sénégal, Voyage Temporel is an exploration of what black & white means to me. While exploring my country, and before immortalizing a subject, I often had a doubt: black & white or color? Because of this uncertainty, I always carried two cameras with me, comprising two different films. At the end of my trip, when I felt ready, I distinguished a particular fact about black & white photos: they all reflect situations, objects, people and traditions from the past that still exist in the present day'' the photographer tells MANJU.
Following its initial presentation in Dakar during the Biennale’s OFF event in May 2024 at Espace Trames, curated by writer Aby Gaye, Bodian’s first monograph went on to be exhibited in Paris for three days in November 2024. The show formed part of Paris Photo, one of the most significant events in the global photography calendar, marking his debut solo exhibition in France and introducing his work to an international audience.
In Sénégal, Voyage Temporel, the artist invites us to escape while reflecting on the beauty and uniqueness of his traditions
For four consecutive years, Senegalese photographer Malick Bodian travelled across his native country, guided by an instinctive curiosity and a desire to understand place through encounter. The journey began in Casamance. During a visit to his father, Bodian met his grandmother for the first time and witnessed the Diola initiates’ training ceremony−a convergence of personal discovery and cultural ritual that would shape the direction of his work. This moment marked the beginning of an introspective and artistic undertaking, one that unfolded through sustained travel and attentive observation. Working within a documentary framework, Bodian uses photography as a means of bearing witness to the people and environments he encounters. His images are grounded not in spectacle, but in proximity and intention−a practice rooted in connection to land, lineage, and lived experience rather than purely aesthetic pursuit.
Inspired by analogue colour photography, Bodian also keeps a second camera to capture the same shot in black and white. Only later, during the editing process, did he recognize what had been present all along: his images convey an unintended yet undeniable timelessness. Beyond simple documentation, his photographs celebrate ancestral ways of life and the intimate rhythms of Senegalese communities, preserving moments untouched by modern uniformity. It is these black-and-white images that Bodian has chosen to showcase in his first exhibition on the African continent. Initially conceived for a Senegalese audience, the show offers a visual journey through the country−a celebration of collective memory and a bridge between past and present. Sénégal, Voyage Temporel which translates Senegal Time Travel is a contemplative exploration of family, tradition, and the passage of time. Bodian’s work is informed by the pioneers of 1970s West African studio portraiture, notably James Barnor, as well as Magnum photographers, particularly Raymond Depardon. His own photography unfolds like a journey across his homeland, pausing to capture fleeting moments of beauty, quiet synchronicity, and the textures of everyday life.
''Sénégal, Voyage Temporel is an exploration of what black & white means to me. While exploring my country, and before immortalizing a subject, I often had a doubt: black & white or color? Because of this uncertainty, I always carried two cameras with me, comprising two different films. At the end of my trip, when I felt ready, I distinguished a particular fact about black & white photos: they all reflect situations, objects, people and traditions from the past that still exist in the present day'' the photographer tells MANJU.
Following its initial presentation in Dakar during the Biennale’s OFF event in May 2024 at Espace Trames, curated by writer Aby Gaye, Bodian’s first monograph went on to be exhibited in Paris for three days in November 2024. The show formed part of Paris Photo, one of the most significant events in the global photography calendar, marking his debut solo exhibition in France and introducing his work to an international audience.