Bodi Samba on finding his identity.

“It is essential to learn in order to create our own and new things.”

Please could you introduce yourself?

My name is Bodi Samba, and I live between Paris and Berlin. I come from a small Congolese commune in Kinshasa, where I spent most of my childhood.

When did you know that you wanted to be an artist?

I had my childhood friend in Congo, who is a painter. He opened my eyes to the artistic world and pushed me to develop my sensitivity through art. Moreover, my cousin, who studied fine arts, helped me to discover photography with Gordon Parks. A photographer who made incredible photos because he traced the history of segregation through photography, and I found it just fabulous. As a result, it was then that I thought that later, I would like to take photographs of this kind of nature. I was immediately inspired, and that was the click for me.

What do you want to say with your photographs, and how do you get your images to do that?

As far I'm concerned, I would like to transcribe my vision around my concept of « Identity » through the artistic side. All these influences, all these things that surround me and that I was able to acquire in Africa and Europe. I managed to bring them together around one and in the same concept that I called: « Identity.» I created this concept to express myself as an artist in complete freedom. This concept is based on three criteria: To express one's vision, creativity without prior criteria to better allow one's own identity to exist. An image is the expression of his imagination.

An artist does not have to justify himself or explain what he has to say.

That's why these criteria are the foundations of my artistic vision. My work speaks for itself. My images are worth 1,000 words, and I think it's beautiful because each person can have their interpretation, and I very much enjoy having the visions of others when they see my work. You feel my influences in my work. 

My work speaks for itself. I don't speak a lot about my concept because I developed and explained my concept to explain to the world my artistic vision, and from there, I constantly create while respecting these three criteria. 

For me, all my creations encompass an infinite of emotion. There is a lot of passion and African beauty in my content. My creations highlight my feelings, and in this way, I developed the concept of «Identity. » Also, I do not cease to feed on things that influence my art and allow me to improve and strengthen my identity. It is necessary to know that in life, nothing is ever acquired. It is essential to learn in order to create our own and new things. Identity is the fruit and fulfillment of my creativity in the same concept.

Who is your main inspiration?

My primary source of inspiration is my mother because she's a strong black woman who fights a lot, and she truly is an example for me. That's why I love women, and I decided in all my projects to show the world the power and beauty of black women because black is beautiful.

Moreover, if today I'm the man you see, it's thanks to my mom because today I have found the feminity inside me, and I couldn't feel more like myself.

Do you have a go-to sentence to define your work?

My key phrase is « Express your vision, your creativity without prerequisites to better allow your own identity to exist » I find that defines my work at 1000%.

Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why?

Among all my works, my favorite project is « Identity secret.» 

I immensely enjoyed the way I worked. You can observe the skeletons inside the body that I photographed. Referring to the human being, we always tend to keep one part of ourselves (which I characterize as a shadow) without realizing that the other part needs the other to exist! Whatever we do, the shadow will always be a part of us. This achievement highlights my artistic vision.

You've done some quite powerful photographs. What's your working process like? How do you make the moment happen where it seems honest and authentic? 

I use many accessories, neon lights, colorful plastic bags, flashlights. I like to set up a rather dark cinematographic mood because I don't want my photos to look like anything. The viewer has to travel.

You have just launched a new concept called 'identity' can you tell us more about it?

This concept represents my inner identity. It is the abstract representation of all my achievements from the beginning. It is about expressing my creative vision as freely as possible, without any prior criteria to bring out my own identity. Thus, the artist does not have to justify and explain his creation because it derives from his imagination. The work speaks for itself. I don't want to spoil too much on this subject, haha. I'm preparing many things, including exhibitions in Berlin and Paris, connected to this concept.

Do you have any advice for those who are just starting out?

What I can say to the new generation like me or who is starting out is to persevere. Nothing impossible. You just have to develop your "identity." Everything is possible to the one who believes.