Mohamed Keita's KENE/Spazio Exhibition at Centro Pecci, Prato

The Centro per l'arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci in Prato, under the direction of Cristiana Perrella, is set to unveil KENE/Spazio, a photography exhibit curated by Sara Alberani. This exhibition, featuring Ivorian photographer Mohamed Keita and his young students from Mali, will be on display from February 19 to March 20, 2020. It highlights a participatory photography workshop in Kanadjiguila, Bamako, where Keita instructed ten local youths. Born in Ivory Coast in 1993, Keita fled to Italy as a political refugee in 2010, experiencing homelessness until a volunteer provided him with a disposable camera. With the help of Fondazione Pianoterra Onlus, he returned to Mali in 2017 to create a space for photography as a means of education. The exhibition showcases five of Keita's works, previously displayed at various prestigious venues, alongside around 50 images from his students. Following Prato, the exhibit will move to Milan, Rome, and Naples, including workshops at educational institutions. A dedicated website will offer the exhibited pieces for sale to support ongoing initiatives in Mali, such as water sanitation and women's rights programs. Additionally, a photobook titled KENE – Mohamed Keita, featuring contributions from several authors, documents the project.