Malick Sidibé was born around 1935 in a small village in Mali. After decorating the “ Photo Service “ shop of Gerard Guillat, a.k.a Geegee the film, the latter asked Malick to stay as his apprentice. He made his first steps as a photographer in 1956. In 1958 he opened the “ Studio Malick “ in the center of Bamako. When he opened his own studio he specialized in documentary photography, focusing particularly on the youth culture of the Malian capital. The “ Studio Malick “ became the inevitable meeting place for the young. Sidibe’s intimate reports produced simple images full of truth and complicity. He became internationally known as a photographer during the first “ Rencontres Photographiques de Bamako “ in 1994 and subsequently at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris. He was awarded the Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion for lifetime achievement award in 2007.
