Trained architect and photographer Alun Be wants to use his work to change people's perceptions of Africa through his art. The Dakar-born photographer is self taught and uses his personal projects to explore the human condition.
Courtesy Alun Be
The faces of Senegal —
"A new wave of freshness is coming from Africa and everyone is copying," says Be, "we've been taught we are not good enough, we are not sophisticated enough we're not smart enough when it's not true."
Despite all his success, his father was not always supportive of his work; "My dad said; 'no art in this home.' He had this phrase; 'artists are like the garbage of humanity.' That's how strongly he felt, but now looking back I realize it was a fear that I would get lost in the arts."
Courtesy Alun Be
The faces of Senegal —
Instead of art, Be's parents favored architecture; "My parents didn't want me to be an artist but they figured that the closest thing to art, that is 'respectable' is architecture, so they pushed me towards that."
Courtesy Alun Be
The faces of Senegal —
While he has always had a passion for art, Be's architecture studies haven't gone to waste -- his latest exhibition in Dakar featured a mix of both architecture and art.
Courtesy Alun Be
The faces of Senegal —
Support for Be's work in Senegal has been a comfort for him; "There is a lot of solidarity between the local artists, it's like a family," he said. "They adopted me right away as I was making my way to the art scene."
Courtesy Alun Be
The faces of Senegal —
Be is keen to pay the support he's been shown forward to other artists starting out; "The previous generation of artist claims that they did not benefit much from solidarity between artists. I always feel helped and welcomed, and I love to do the same in return."
