Bamako & London is an ongoing collaborative project by London-based curator Sophie Mew and two photographers from Mali and the UK, Harandane Dicko & Diane Patrice.

The Bamako & London project is a series of photographic collaborations between a UK-based curator and photographers from the UK and Mali in West Africa. The project links London and Bamako through the use of photographs and interview transcriptions depicting contemporary scenes of everyday life in the two capital cities.

In 2011, for example, the exhibition documented parallels between such subjects as taxi drivers’ daily routines, families sharing meals together and friends’ conversations over cups of tea in Bamako and London, respectively. The exhibition was hosted in London in May before travelling to Bamako last September. Participating artists were Diane Patrice in London and Alioune Bâ in Bamako, and the project was curated by Sophie Mew in London.

In 2012, Money in Bamako and London coincides with the opening of the new Citi Money Gallery at the British Museum, and there will be 12 images on display in the Clore Education Centre Foyer from 1 June – 1 July*. The work done in London by Diane Patrice addresses how money circulates, and how it is used, saved and spent in everyday contexts around the city. In light of the recent coup d’état and political upheavals in Mali, the Bamako-based photographer artist Harandane Dicko exposes the effects of sanctions (imposed from 3-8 April 2012), economic insecurity and struggle in daily lives in Bamako today (the images in London and Bamako were taken during March and April 2012). In Dicko’s work, he counterbalances such heavy subject matter with, for example, an image of teenagers playing card games to illustrate the continuity of daily life. Sophie Mew is curating this project at the British Museum with the support provided by Evelyn Owen.

Later in 2012, it is intended that the displays will again travel to Bamako, so as to share the scenes from Bamako and London with citizens of both cities.
www.bamakoandlondon.com

* Please note that the displays are not accessible to the public on 12/13, 19/20 and 25/26 June, and may not be on a small number of additional days. Please contact bamakolondon@gmail.com for further information.

Citi Money Gallery

The history of money can be traced back over four thousand years. During this time, currency has taken many different forms, ranging from shells in ancient China to massive stone discs on the Island of Yap in the Western Pacific. The Citi Money Gallery (Room 68) demonstrates the development of money across the world through a range of objects and examines how money has been used by diverse cultural groups.

The new Citi Money Gallery will open in June 2012, and will chronicle the development and use of money throughout the world. Follow its progress on the Money Gallery blog.

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  Images © Diane Patrice
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  Images © Harandane Dicko
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  The British Museum