forthcoming past Wilmotte Gallery at Lichfield Studios: 133 OXFORD GARDENS, LONDON W10 6NE Email: info@tristanhoare.com All Contents © Copyright 1998-2012 Tristan Hoare Les 2 Amies 1975 Gelatin Silver Print Nous voulons tres aussis Photographes 1975 Gelatin Silver Print Mselle – Ami Kauté 1968 Gelatin Silver Print En Moto avec les Soeurs 1974 Gelatin Silver Print MALICK SIDIBÉ  11th March - 16th April 2010 Born in 1960 Lives and works in Bamako In 1960 when Mali became independent from France a great sense of freedom and confidence coincided with economic expansion. Luxury shops appeared for the first time and young Malians, inspired by magazines and record covers from Europe and America, started wearing western clothes. They formed clubs which became meeting places, where they drank, discussed politics and swapped James Brown records. Each club, with names like The Barons, The Seducers or The Soul Brothers, had a distinct style and reputation and would throw competing parties as often as possible. They became so popular that at some point there were over 250 in Bamako alone. It was also in 1960 that Malick Sidibe , having completed a five-year photography apprenticeship, set up his studio in the lively Bagadadji quarter of Bamako. He bought a complete set of laboratory equipment from a Frenchman who was heading home and became one of the first photographers to take a 35mm camera out into the city. He teamed up with his friend Garrincha, part tailor, part DJ — and a dancer credited with the invention of 'James Brown bell—bottoms' specially designed to enhance your dancing skills — and together they went to all the parties, covering up to five a night. Malick would then return to the studio and print until dawn. On Mondays and Tuesdays the revellers would come by to see the prints, discuss the night and generally have a laugh looking at the pictures. Thus Studio Malick became the place in Bamako to hang out and be photographed. Many of his clients were women who wanted to show off the latest clothes, watches and hairstyles, and would return regularly as new trends emerged. For young people a studio portrait was an important event and each image was constructed using a mixture of carefully chosen props. They would dress like their idols, copying a specific film or look; and for each club there would be rules dictating the way their members should wear their hats and jackets, or the way they held their cigarettes. The energy emanating from these pictures is still palpable in the studio today. Sit with Malick for a few hours and you'll witness people of all ages dropping by; others call out his name as they bicycle past. Inside the studio the famous striped textile is still in use and the shelves are packed with repaired cameras and negatives. Always happy to discuss the old days Malick tells stories of Bamako at the time of independence. In his opinion the young today don't know how to have a good time. Looking at these carefree photographs one feels he may have a point.