A Picture of Africa? Antawan Byrd reviews the 9th Bamako Encounters

vibrant and cosmopolitan, the city of Bamako, situated on the Niger River, doesn’t have much of an art scene. But that hasn’t stopped it from emerging as one of the most important stops on the global biennial circuit for exploring contemporary photography.

The eighth edition of the event, newly retitled “Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennial,” takes on the theme of “Borders” as its focal point. Borders in every sense imaginable, that is.

Acknowledging the discursive dimensions — or possibilities — of the concept, creative directors Michket Krifat and Laura Serani cast a wide net in organizing the biennial; the results, dispersed throughout various venues in Mali’s capital, explore how borders — social, political, economic — remain quite visible in Africa despite efforts to restructure and reconceptualize them. Read More at artinfo.com