In dialogue with
Gideon Boadi
Through his photography, Ghanaian artist Gideon explores the dialogues between people, light and places. His work captures the beauty of shared experiences and different perspectives. As the photographer behind our first Silk Stories, Eternal Sun, we were excited to hear what inspires him.
In this dialogue, we sat down with Gideon to talk about the way he sees people, places and light through his lens. From his early curiosity about how light can transform the way we perceive a person or a moment, photography has become more than a way of documenting the world. It’s a way for him to slow down, pay attention and make sense of what he sees.
He reflects on how his relationship with photography has evolved over the years, towards images that evoke a feeling and stay with you. He also shares what makes Ghana’s coastline such a meaningful place to photograph, from its quiet beauty and rich history to its connection with nature. Along the way, we talk about the details, memories and sensations that shape the way he experiences a place.
VD: How did you start photography?
GB: “I was curious about people and the way light could completely change how you felt about someone or something. Photography became a way of slowing down and paying attention. The more I photographed, the more I realized I wasn’t just documenting moments. I was trying to understand them.”VD: How has your relationship with photography evolved over the years?
GB: “I’ve learned that a technically perfect image isn’t always the one people remember. The photographs that stay with us usually make us feel something. These days, I’m chasing that feeling more than perfection.”VD: What makes Ghana's coastline unlike anywhere else in the world?
GB: “Ghana’s coastline has a quiet beauty that’s hard to explain.. It’s full of history, stories, and a calm energy. Every time I photograph there, it reminds me to slow down and work with nature, not against it.”
VD: A smell that instantly reminds you of summer?
GB: “Salt air mixed with sunscreen and the ocean.”VD: What does We All Share The Same Sun mean to you?
GB: “It reminded me that we’re all connected. The same light shines on all of us, and I wanted my photos to reflect that shared experience.”VD: A place in Ghana everyone should experience at least once?
GB: “The Volta Lake. There’s something peaceful about it. The light, the landscape and the journey across the lake make it a peaceful experience.”VD: One thing that always makes you smile?
GB: “Seeing people happy.”
