Born in Mauritania in 1984, Saleh Lo is a self taught painter who acquired hyper-realistic painting techniques using online tutorials. His work tackles societal issues such as street children, mixed-race unions and slavery. He has exhibited and has taken part in projects in Nouakchott, Dakar, Barcelona, Berlin, Mumbay among others. He lives and works in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Saleh Lo's practice deals with the sad reality of the enslaved community of Mauritania where slavery is still existing and contributes into reinforcing racial discrimination. He has been closely working with freed slaves and activits for whom, despite the fact of being free, freedom becomes very ambiguous. Their new condition puts them into a in-between space where they are physically free but have no space in the society, they then enter a new phase in which they need to battle in order to gain recognition. By painting their portraits, Saleh creates a way of restoring their dignity and also engages into a political activism against persisting forms of slavery.
Saleh Lo's practice deals with the sad reality of the enslaved community of Mauritania where slavery is still existing and contributes into reinforcing racial discrimination. He has been closely working with freed slaves and activits for whom, despite the fact of being free, freedom becomes very ambiguous. Their new condition puts them into a in-between space where they are physically free but have no space in the society, they then enter a new phase in which they need to battle in order to gain recognition. By painting their portraits, Saleh creates a way of restoring their dignity and also engages into a political activism against persisting forms of slavery.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 • Battling to normalise freedom - Clark House, Mumbai, India
2016 • Libre ou Esclave -Institut Français de Mauritanie - Nouakchott
2014 • Métissage - Galerie Zeinart - Nouakchott
2013 • Les enfants de la rue - Galerie Zeinart - Nouakchott
COLLECTIVES EXHIBITIONS
2018 • 12e Biennale (IN), Musée IFAN, Dakar, Senegal
2018 • Route de la mémoire - Galerie Nationale, Dakar, Senegal
2016 • Galerie Limited Editions - Barcelona, Espagne
2016 • Galerie Zeinart - Nouakchott
2013 • L’Union européenne - Maison des artistes - Nouakchott
2012 • Libre Arts - Institut Français de Mauritanie - Nouakchott
RESIDENCIES
2018 • Clark House Initiative, Mumbai, India
2017 • IFA CrossCulture Program Schlesische 27, Berlin, Germany
2017 • Anganzi, but I'm sure. Raw Material Company, Dakar, Senegal