Sory Sanlé's First Solo Show at Morton Hill Gallery

Sory Sanlé: Volta Photo 1965-85, the first solo exhibition of Burkinabé photographer Sory Sanlé, is on view at Morton Hill Gallery in London until October 27, 2017, with an extension already announced. The show features 42 portraits from Sanlé's archive, marking the first time a substantial portion of his work has left Burkina Faso. Previously, his only exhibition was four years ago at the Institut Français in Ouagadougou. Sanlé, born in 1943 in Nianiagara, was discovered by French music producer Florent Mazzoleni in 2011 while searching for Afro-funk and Bobo yé-yé vinyl records. Mazzoleni encountered Sanlé's photographs documenting the cultural transformation of Burkina Faso from colonial rule to independence. Sanlé operated the Volta Photo Studio in Bobo-Dioulasso, where he captured the vibrant youth culture, music scene, and everyday life of the 1960s-80s. His work includes portraits of musicians like Dafra Star, Volta Jazz Orchestra, Les Imbattables Léopards, and Echo Del Africa. Sanlé's photographs have been included in the Autophoto exhibition at Fondation Cartier in Paris alongside William Eggleston, Man Ray, and Lee Friedlander. A major retrospective is scheduled for May 2018 at the Art Institute of Chicago. Sanlé continues to photograph daily life in Bobo-Dioulasso, now using digital cameras.