Ghana. We Shall Meet Again, 2019
Denis Dailleux is known for the portrait of Egypt which he has been developing for over fifteen years. In a search for new locations, he found his way to Ghana, where the fishermen of the port of Jamestown turned out to be a rich source of images: seascapes with changing skies, the dance of the fishermen, the movements of women and children around the port… Within this community, he explores new ways of relating to the body and space, life and death, and the sea, breathing new life into his photography.
“I first discovered Ghana when I came across this beautiful book that Paul Strand dedicated to this country. It left an incredible impression upon me, and I promised myself that I would one day go and photograph this land.
After my book Fils de roi, a work entirely dedicated to Egypt, was published by Gallimard Editions, I felt that it was time for me to renew my source of inspiration. Starting with fresh landscapes and new ways of being, I decided to explore Sub-Saharan Africa, the previously called Black Africa.
I encountered my first shock in Ghana with the fishermen of Jamestown. I was caught up by these powerful scenes, that evoked old paintings. The dazzling light over the ocean transformed these men into silhouettes. After experiencing the modesty of Egyptians, I loved the beauty and the freedom of Ghanan bodies. For a photographer, these bodies are a gift. After meeting my friend Joseph, he allowed me to explore his village in the Ashanti region. However, Ghana is not a country so easily tamed, and I had to go and return there many times. During my last trip, I found that my stubbornness paid off. It was then that I discovered a village at the foot of Lake Volta where I encountered the most beautiful people. It was there that I took possibly my finest portraits of the village fool, children, and once again, a group of fishermen who live without electricity close to a touristic destination.
I love this feeling of perpetual discovery that takes me back to childhood. I try to live within this eternal and renewable state of birth.”
Denis Dailleux
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