Sidi Diabaté
Sidi, born in 1994 in Kati, is a Malian visual artist based in Bamako. He graduated from the National Institute of Arts (INA) and earned a bachelor’s degree from the Conservatory of Arts and Multimedia Trades Balla Fasseké Kouyaté (CAMM-BFK) in 2019. His artistic practice is centered on collage and painting, primarily using recycled newspaper.
Biography
His work delves into a theme that deeply resonates with him: childhood. In many African countries and across the world, children are tragically subjected to severe exploitation, whether through forced recruitment as child soldiers or sexual slavery. Yet, childhood is often viewed as a symbol of hope, opportunity, and optimism for the future.Through his art, Sidi explores the fragility of human life and the vulnerability of children. He sees childhood as an existence that appears free yet fragile, governed by innocence and unconsciousness. His artistic approach captures this sense of fragmentation, using collage as a medium of expression. For him, cutting, recycling, layering, and painting create a space of diversity, where nothing is wasted, and every piece finds its rightful place.
