The Desired Effect: Spotlight on Joana Choumali

Artists Sokari Douglas Camp and Joana Choumali broke the barrier of the male-dominated art world, proving and celebrating the artistic identity. They analyze the challenges faced by contemporary society without deference. They overturn preconceptions and taboo they bring us into their intimate lives and they are not afraid of revealing their, and our, darkest fears.

Joana Choumali (b. 1974) is a freelance photographer based in Abidjan. In her last work, Awoulaba/taille fine (awoulaba means ‘beauty queen’ in Baule language), Joana investigates the concept of beauty and bodily perfection. What is it to be considered to have a perfect body? She began her photographic composition by documenting the local manufacturers in Cote d’Ivoire that produce mannequins with body shapes more associated with those of African women. All of this constitutes the hybrid representations of what a ‘perfect woman’ is supposed to be: the real one and the perfect one, all at the same time. The final image results in a disconcerting and destabilizing ensemble of shapes, symbols, colors and ideas.

NAPPY!

A series of portraits about the return to natural afro hair, an incentive for an inner travel, daydreaming. A tribute to black beauty. Behold!