Mohamed ABAKAR
Photographer

Mohamed received a creation grant in partnership with the Atelier des Artistes en Exil. 

What is your artistic background ?
I started taking pictures at the age of 18 when I finished school in Sudan, I was interested in nature and traditional ceremonies. Then I started writing. When I arrived in France, I joined ENSAD's guest student programme in the photo-video section. During a workshop in Versailles, I won second prize for my project Réfugiésà Découvert (Refugees in the Open), showing refugees next to statues around the park of the Château de Versailles. These photos were exhibited at the Palais Royal near the Ministry of Culture with the workshop of artists in exile and at the Collège de France, on the invitation of Mathieu Pernot.  

How do you see your profession today ?
I need to denounce the dysfunctions of this world with my photos. At the moment I am working on the issue of refugees, I feel particularly concerned given my background. I want to show their living conditions and alert public opinion about their reality after all they've been through. 

How do you see yourself in five years ? In 10 years ?
I see myself as an accomplished artist.

This interview was conducted in 2018
Photo credit: Céline Anaya Gautier