Yvann Zahui
Yako
"Yako" is a common Ivorian expression used to comfort someone facing hardship whether illness, loss, or exhaustion. More than a word, it embodies compassion, solidarity, and cultural rituals, especially during funerals. It reflects a deep value in Ivorian society. As an artist, I question legacy and how cultural beliefs around death shape our identities and afterlives. Having grown up in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, I’ve seen how mourning and celebration often coexist, how the body is honoured and the soul guided. Funerals are moments of grief and joy, filled with dance, rhythm, and storytelling. Through visual exploration, I seek to express death beyond borders not to explain it, but to hold space for mystery and spiritual connection.
Yiding Chen • Adam Dorgham • Michael Dwan • Samuel Nohe Ireland • Eliza Modzelewska • Nasrah Omar • Polina Piëch • Chandni Raithatha • Nick Rosenoer • Nik Simon • Yvann Zahui • Dashen Zhang • Nancy Xinrui Zhou •
University of Brighton
MA Photography
Falmouth University
MA Photography
Glasgow School of Art
Masters of Design in Photography
University of Portsmouth
MA Photography
Royal College of Art
MA Photography
Ulster University
MFA Photography