Adrien Bitibaly's 'Untitled 1' Acquired by Julie Chaizemartin at AKAA

At the AKAA (Also Known As Africa) fair, held from November 9-11, 2019, at the Carreau du Temple in Paris, Julie Chaizemartin fictively acquired Adrien Bitibaly's photograph 'Untitled 1' from the series 'Black Volta (Mouhoun)' (2018). The work, a metallic baryta print measuring 50 x 62.5 cm, depicts a young man from behind, facing the Mouhoun River (formerly Black Volta) in Burkina Faso. The figure appears to liquefy into the river's shimmering reflection, creating an inverted reality that evokes memories, imaginary journeys, and childhood dreams. Bitibaly, born in 1984 in Burkina Faso, uses this image to explore personal anchoring, hopes, and fears of uprooting. The series 'Black Volta' comprises several photographs on metallic baryta paper, blending documentary and poetic elements to capture the river's life and the ephemeral nature of daily existence. The artist studies reflection as an intermediary between reality and its distortion through water, presenting nature's perspective on humanity. The AKAA fair, a parallel event to Paris Photo, focuses on Africa and its diasporas.