Born and raised in Dakar/Senegal, Alassane Insa Babylas Ndiaye is also an Arts-Culture campaigner next ot being an artist. He started his career of graphic artist at Media Monde in 2002. Margins of this from 1998 to 2007 with his partner Dj Makhtar (R.I.P) they founded El Niño Productions – Dj Makhtar Productions an entertainment company (2005BOOBA first show in Dakar, Neg’Marrons show, Singuila & La Fouine Event in Dakar, Saturday Night Fever Party and Friday Night Fever on Airplay, etc…). Afterwards he worked on the 2008 Edition of Afrikakeur Festival as a Production director. During two years he has increased his knowledge in visual arts at the Senegalese Academy of Arts nowadays he is also a councilman on the Goree Island, a member of ADAFEST (Senegalese Association of Festivals and Broadcasters) and the West Africa project manager of Africa Unsigned, He is the ceo of Arts & Culture Consulting a booking agency based in Dakar (for musicians :Vieux Farka Touré, Madou Sidiki Diabaté,Tiwony,etc) and was also Stage Manager during Black WOrld Festival (Fesman) 2010.
Babylas Ndiaye's photography is a contemporary version of the portrait photography; his personages are showing contemporary Africans out the nightlife of Dakar. The question who pops up, with his portraits, is whether they are portraits taken by surprise or was their a ‘mise en scène’ taking place - the gaze is often frontal - looking straight into the camera’s eye or it addresses directly the eyes of the viewer- in opposition to Mama Casset portraits, where the gaze is not as directly confronting. A game is initiated who is looking to whom? Which is for me a reminder of a Wolof word game ‘ xulli bett – xalli bett – potu n’dox’ (why are you looking at me? Because you are looking at me. Literally we throw a bucket of water on it or simply said, whatever).
He is also taking, whenever it's pleasing him - sunsets - waiting for the beautiful moment - it's seems a crazy thing to do - so many sunsets were already taken - Tourists coming to his home country (Senegal) are taking with them pictures of sunsets as a trophee of their trip - he is taking the images back and reappropriates them in his own way and with his own particular eye.
Vanessa Van Obberghen
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