Tessilim Adjayi: from video to photography
Tessilim Adjay is an artist originally from Togo. He was born in 1988 in Assahoun, a village situated 52 km from the capital, Lomé. Tessilim is a multidisciplinary artist who works across photography, video and documentary filmmaking
Between work and a mother’s love
Here are 5 things to know about Tessilim Adjayi:
1- Tessilim came to photography rather by chance! He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Editing and Post-production (audiovisual professions, arts and cinema) at the Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l’Audiovisuel (ISMA) in Benin. But in 2015, whilst visiting a photo lab with some prints to be developed, the owner, impressed by the quality of his work, offered to take him on. This formative experience marked the beginning of his passion for photography. 2- Tessilim has a passion for black-and-white images: this technical and aesthetic approach allows him to highlight the social realities he wishes to portray through his work. Indeed, his photographs illustrate stories of everyday life. 3- Tessilim: a work of introspection: He immerses himself in urban memory: he observes, analyses and attempts to understand the behaviour of his fellow citizens. He also reflects on the challenges of our time. This process of observation forms one of the cornerstones of his art. 4- Tessilim tells us about Africa: Through his works, he aims to showcase African culture and traditions. He highlights unusual characters. Photography is therefore the culmination of extensive research and documentation, aimed at informing visitors as fully as possible about different cultures. He does not hesitate to go out and meet local communities, as he did for his ‘Ronou’ series, for which he spent time with the Lobozounkpa people of Benin. His aim is to spark curiosity and discussion around his photographs. 5- Tessilim exhibits his work internationally: His photographs are on display in two museums: in Toulouse at the Musée des Abattoirs and in South Korea at the Chang Kim Hwan Art Museum. We can also find the artist’s works on his blog, on his Facebook page and, of course, available for sale through Art Kelen.
Series: Street Vendors
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