1110 Dundas St. W. Downtown, Canada
The Rabaal Weaver’s Son: A Documentary Photo Exhibition

The Rabaal Weaver's Son: A Documentary Photo Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

We invite you to the opening reception of The Rabaal Weaver’s Son, a documentary photo exhibition, on Saturday, November 2nd, from 7 pm to 11 pm at Youthful Vengeance, 1110 Dundas St. W., Toronto.

This exhibition, running from November 2nd to January 1st, is more than just a series of photographs—it’s a visual narrative that captures the tension between tradition and urbanization in modern-day Senegal. Photographer Choi David spent the summer of 2017 in Dakar, documenting a story that was originally commissioned but never released.

Now, for the first time, these images are being publicly showcased, offering a glimpse into the lives of a traditional Senegalese weaver and his son, and the cultural shifts they face.

RSVP’s help our non-profit’s metrics to support and propose more projects like this.

Artist Statement

Senegal is known for its Teranga—a culture steeped in generosity, where sharing isn’t just a practice but a way of life. It’s a land of complex flavors, like the rice and fish combination called Yassa, and a nation where traditional wrestling, both boys and girls obsessed, holds as much cultural weight as the songs and stories passed down through generations. And then there’s Rabaal, an intricate weaving technique requiring the collaboration of two weavers. Its patterns aren’t just designs; they carry the weight of deities, creatures, and lineages, representing timeless virtues—much like those you find in Western cultures, but different in ways you only sense, not fully understand. Traditionally, these Rabaal garments weave themselves through every part of life—birth, marriage, work, and death.

But Dakar, caught between poverty and rapid urbanization, is a city in conflict. The landscape is changing, and with it, so is the culture. People must choose what to hold onto and what to let go of in the name of survival.

The Rabaal weaver I met, along with his son, hailed from Guinea-Bissau, the southern region where many weavers come from. They had come to Dakar in search of financial relief and better education for his son—hopeful, in their own way. When I asked him about the pattern he was working on, he simply said, “nothing.”

In “The Rabaal Weaver’s Son,” I’m not interested in simple conclusions. I want to explore how development affects culture in ways that are sometimes quiet, and sometimes devastating. Do traditional values erode? Do the patterns lose meaning? Or maybe it’s just me, projecting my own concerns onto something I’ll never truly understand, something seen only through the eyes of a boy who still hasn’t spoken.

Photographic Focus

Originally commissioned in 2017, The Rabaal Weaver’s Son set out to document the Rabaal weaving technique in Dakar, Senegal. However, what began as a straightforward ethnographic project soon expanded into a deeper exploration of how cultural traditions coexist with modernity. The exhibition showcases previously unseen images from Choi David’s time in Dakar, offering a glimpse into the relationship between heritage and urban development, weaving and industry, and the intergenerational connections of the Senegalese people. Each photograph is a quiet reflection on cultural acts rooted in history and meaning.

The exhibition is curated to present subtle, thematic imagery, divided into subcategories: Children, Land, and Man. These subcategories highlight the nuances of life in Dakar, offering a layered perspective on how tradition and modernity intersect in everyday experiences. ‘Children’ captures the innocence and continuity of cultural practices passed down through generations, while ‘Land’ focuses on the physical space where tradition is preserved and altered. ‘Man’ delves into the individual’s role in maintaining cultural identity amidst urbanization as custodians of history and participants in a rapidly changing world. Together, these images create a contemplative narrative of resilience, adaptation, and the quiet persistence of tradition.

In addition to the exhibition, patrons are invited to explore an exclusive 48-image mini-photo book, offering a deeper glimpse into The Rabaal Weaver’s Son series. This limited-edition book will be available for purchase at the event.

RSVP’s help our non-profit’s metrics to support and propose more projects like this.

See you at Youthful Vengeance

Join us for this unique opportunity to explore Senegal’s cultural legacy through the lens of The Rabaal Weaver’s Son.

  • Opening reception: 7pm-11pm, Saturday, Nov. 2024
  • Exhibition period: Nov. 2, 2024- Jan.1, 2025
  • Youthful Vengeance, 1110 Dundas St. W.

 

RSVP’s help our non-profit’s metrics to support and propose more projects like this.

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