Ikinga

In late 2013, photographer Stephan Würth embarked on a whirlwind, two-day road trip that wound its way across Burundi, a small landlocked nation in the heart of East Africa. Snapping images on a hidden iPhone during his journey, Würth portrays everyday life in the impoverished country, from the bustling open-air markets of its capital, Bujumbura, to the plantations of sweet banana and coffee deep in the countrys foothills. The photographs highlight the integral role the bicycleor ikingaplays in Burundis culture. With a candid eye that recalls Walker Evans surreptitious subway shots of New York in the 1930s, Würths photographs reveal a lively, resourceful and entrenched bicycle culture that is vital not only to Burundis economy, but also to the daily survival of its countrymen. At times playful and intimate, Ikinga is a bold meditation upon the power of creativity and improvisation during times of great difficulty.