Au Revoir, Bakary (1979-2014)
If we could, we would publish a silent note, as in Bakary Diallo’s "Tomo", in an attempt to express the same poignant silence of his work, and the feeling of desolation, pain and sorrow after the tragic incident in which we lost this great artist. But, unfortunately, now we can only write this report, even though deeply mourning his death after the plane crash of Air Algerie.
The information was confirmed late on Thursday (July 24). Bakary Diallo was going to France, from where he would go to Brazil to start a residency at Sacatar Institute, in Itaparica Island, Bahia. With "Tomo", Bakary was one of the artists awarded with residences in the 18th Contemporary Art Festival Sesc_Videobrasil. Prior to his trip to Bahia, he would participate in a Public Programs activity during the opening of 18th Festival’s On Tour in Campinas, São Paulo, next Tuesday (July 29).
Working mainly with video, he used objects of everyday life to build synthetic narratives that question the effects of violence. Before being awarded in the Festival’s 18th edition, he was also selected for the 17th Festival with "Les Feuilles d'un Temps". Both works are part of Videobrasil Collection.
His work has been screened in venues such as Biennale de l’Art Africain Contemporain, Dak’Art (2012), L’Afrique en mouvement, Montréal (2012), 9eme Biennale Africaine de la Photographie, Bamako (2011), 17th Contemporary Art Festival SESC_Videobrasil (2011), and 20ª Semana de Cine Experimental de Madrid (2010). He attended Le Fresnoy – National Studio of Contemporary Arts (2010).
Still under the shock of this loss, as sudden as unfortunate, we sympathize with the pain of family and friends, certain that the art world has lost a great artist, and a great man. To Bakary Diallo, many minutes of our silence.
A tribute to Bakary Diallo: