Tracing Shadows by Saïdou Dicko at The Photographers' Gallery

Saïdou Dicko is a self-taught artist whose work remains deeply rooted in his early life as a shepherd in the Sahel, where he began drawing by tracing the shadows of his sheep in the sand.

Overview

Saïdou Dicko is an artist from Burkina Faso whose photographic works are transformed with paint and collage. His ‘Shadowed People’ echoes multigenerational stories, each holding ancestral memory, cultural identity, shared experience, and the imagined futures of those yet to come.

Dicko’s silhouetted figures are set against vivid patterned backgrounds that nod to Burkinabè textiles and the rich tradition of African studio photography. The distinctive cross motif, frequently painted above the figures’ heads, references a symbol often seen in the traditional rugs of his youth, evoking childhood memory and cultural continuity. Beads and jewellery remain visible, highlighting their cultural significance. Everyday items are elevated by the shadow children’s imaginative play and the artist’s symbolism. Dicko subtly reframes plastic vessels as essential tools in regions where access to clean water is limited – acknowledging the fragility of this reality while representing the care and creativity of sustainable reuse. 

Through the interplay of photography and his artistic interventions, Dicko creates a liminal space where meaning emerges through memory, emotion and personal reflection.