2006 Participating Artists > Jean-Dominique Burton

|  |  | Jean-Dominique Burton |
"NAABAS" - TRADITIONAL CHIEFS FROM BURKINA FASO Photographer Jean-Dominique Burton (1952. resides in Rixensart Belgium) travelled thirty years from the Atlas Mountains lo the Himalayas where he covered many subjects in black and white, and in colour. He is the author of the freeze-framing book "Hong Kong Transit”, capturing the island's lifestyle fifteen days before and fifteen days after the handover to China. Last year Burton arrived to the West-African country Burkina Faso to begin a complete black and while portrait gallery on the Naabas: traditional chiefs, kings and even the emperor, with power and wisdom, chosen from a diversity of the twelve cultural entities of the country (Mossi, Lobi, Bobo, Gan, Bissa ...) Six thousand kilometres further and fifty-three portraits later, the Brussels Moba Art Gallery is proud to show an important selection of his work. Jean-Dominique Burton will be present and will sign his new book on the Naabas entitled "L’ AIIée des Rois". The face-to-face work of Burton with the Naabas shows realistic but raw images. Each king is on his throne, without any entourage or assistance. Disturbing elements have been taken out of the frames; Burton captured a moment of timeless waiting, while travelling from village to village with only his compact photo studio. This contemporary photography is depicted as traditional royal portrait paintings. |