‘The Darkest Colour’ Photographed by Yannis Davy Guibinga Starring Tania Fines and Madjou Diallo

Photographed by Yannis Davy Guibinga

Gabon-born, Canada-based photographer Yannis Davy Guibinga explores the colour black.

In many cultures across the globe, the colour black is a symbolism for darkness, mourning, and death but also anything else that is frightening, negative and standing in opposition to the purity and goodness of the white.

“The Darkest Colour” is an abstract representation and visual reimagination of the inevitable loss of the Man in his battle with Death, very often pictured in the colour Black, or one similar to it.

The constant presence and proximity of Death that is felt by every individual throughout their lifetimes is represented in this series by the constant yet sometimes barely visible presence of a female form, looming over and interacting with the other subject. The absence of genitals on the seemingly male subject represents the universality of this struggle and the fact that every individual will die, regardless of the gender identity.

Through the study of the Human form and the overwhelming presence of the colour black, “The Darkest Colour” aims to interrogate, reinvestigate and redefine the stereotypes and preconceived notions not only about the colour black itself but also about death. Rather than being seen as a tragedy, “The Darkest Colour” aims to reimagine the inevitable act of dying as a peaceful rest after the intense and sometimes turbulent journey that is Life.