Artist Spotlight: Delphine Diallo
For Delphine Diallo, photography is a revolution. It allows her to develop images that transcend stereotypes in a world that consistently perpetuates a singular attitude as to what is deemed beautiful. In this artist spotlight, learn more about the French-Senegalese photographer and her journey of self-identification through art.
Everyone has asked themselves, “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” at some point in their lives. They are questions of identity that may be easier for some to answer than others. For French-Senegalese photographer Delphine Diallo, photography allows her to create visions of her beliefs in order to answer personal questions of self-identification.
Delphine Diallo worked in the entertainment industry for several years as a commercial art designer and animator before she became discontented with an industry she felt inspired people to only appreciate one kind of beauty. “The commercial industry is involved in all levels of society. They tell us what to wear, what to like, what to believe, what is good, what is bad and many more hidden messages,” said Diallo. According to Diallo, one of her goals as a photographer is to transcend stereotypes of beauty. “It’s not just about race only. It’s about what is supposed to be beautiful and what is not. Photography is a revolution for me because I can change the way society tries to direct me to their beliefs,” adds Diallo.
Race is an issue that has always caused divisions in societies around the world. In February, Americans celebrate “Black History Month” during which time schools put up posters of activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and tell stories about ordinary citizens like Rosa Parks who made a difference in the lives of all African-Americans. When asked about her thoughts on cultural history months in America, Delphine Diallo responded, “Does every color need to have a history month? What about universal history months? Black history is a part of my life because I am from Senegal. I try to know a lot about my culture and always learn something new about it.”
Although Diallo studied photography at the Académie Charpentier School of Visual Art in Paris, France, her vision as an artist is more inspired by her Senegalese heritage. “Africa is the first place where I was inspired,” said Diallo. “In this land no one is running and people take time to share and stay with their family.”
When choosing locations and subjects for her work Diallo says she is driven by spontaneity and likes to visualize how it will turn out before shooting. As an artist her work utilizes both color and black-and-white film. She employs black-and-white film for classic-looking pictures and portraits because she is enamored by the spirituality and sensitivity of the results. Some of her work incorporates collage and paint and makes references to popular culture. For Diallo, incorporating these mediums into her work helps her express her feelings about the world and better understand her role in it.
In 2008, renowned photographer Peter Beard invited Diallo to assist him in Botswana and collaborate on a photography art project for the Pirelli Calendar 2009. The trip inspired her to shoot “The RENAISSANCE,” a series of work that portrays modern-day African protagonists as heroes of ancient tales where the beauty and violence of reality collide. “I almost create my photographic world after this trip. He took me one year to shoot from Paris, to Senegal and to New York. And, I’m finally ready to express my new vision of the world.”
Not only did Diallo have the opportunity to assist behind the scenes, but also Beard put her in front of the camera to pose as a model for the 2009 edition of the Pirelli Calendar. “He shot me jumping and running with elephants. It was scary, but for the first time in my life I felt good in front of the camera. I wasn’t pausing, but instead acting more with my environment.”
Delphine Diallo currently lives and works in New York City, but notes that the transition from the Parisian lifestyle to that of a New Yorker was no easy task. In order to live in New York she had to go through the arduous process of obtaining an artist visa. However, for Diallo New York is where she wants to be as an artist. “Artistically”, she says, “Paris is not a city where as an emerging artist and photographer I feel I can make it.” She advises emerging artists to believe in themselves if they want to find success in New York City as an artist. “I feel better here and very inspired. It fuels my creativity mode. The subway, the people and the city are alive at 100 percent all the time and I love it,” adds Diallo.
To see more of Delphine Diallo’s work check out her website here.
