Fabrice Monteiro travelled to the most polluted places in Africa and created terrifying characters who roamed their midst dressed in eerie debris. All Photos courtesy the artist, Photo Basel 2017 and Mariane Ibrahim Gallery

Informed by Africa’s environmental problems, Fabrice Monteiro’s photographs aim to highlight urgent ecological issues all over the world.

‘The Prophecy is a tale of hope and empowerment. Earth has sent her spirits to tell humans that they have the power to reverse what they have done to the planet’

‘When I started the project, I found out what Senegal’s biggest environmental challenges were and chose nine topics that seemed the most visual.’

The costumes of these figures are made in collaboration with Dakar-based designer Doulcy from garbage found right at their location.

The characters are based on a children’s story by Monteiro, combining animism and traditional religion with superheroes.

‘As humans we used to know the importance of respecting and preserving nature. But our endless consumerism has got us lost.’

‘I consider myself “transcultural”: I am as much African as I am European,’ says Monteiro, who is half Beninese, half Belgian.