In pictures: Play, prayers and power explored at Dak'Art

Senegalese artist Baba Ly was one of dozens of artists to present at one of the Dakar Biennale's "Off" sites. Here he stands amid paintings from his series on urbanism.Ricci Shryock

Africa's largest biennial, Dak'Art, showcases the best of African contemporary art. Photographer Ricci Shryock met some of the 65 artists taking part in the month-long exhibition that has just ended in Senegal.

Nigerian artist Victor Ehikhamenor's The Prayer RoomRicci Shryock

Nigerian artist Victor Ehikhamenor took inspiration for his work titled The Prayer Room from places where elders meet and decide on community matters.

A detail from artists Kemi Bassene's Varna's Dharma, which is a chessboard that "sweeps as much the history of geography as the geography of history." The title of the piece means "Philosophy or Essence of Colours" in Sanskrit. "All pieces are questions between history and the past" are made from cornstarch.Ricci Shryock

Chess pieces were re-imagined in this worked called Varna's Dharma by Senegalese artist Kemi Bassene.

Youssef Limoud's work MaqamRicci Shryock

The Leopold Senghor award of Dak’Art 2016 was given to the Egyptian-Swiss artist Youssef Limoud for this work Maqam, which recalled the calm after a storm.

A man takes a photo of Lavar Munroe's A hero's journey to a distant land at the Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African ArtRicci Shryock

Lavar Munroe, from the Bahamas and one of some artists from outside Africa exhibiting, attempted to challenge the notions of trash and treasure in his piece A Hero's Journey to a Distant Land.

Modupeola Fadugba and her work Like Play Like PlayRicci Shryock

Like Play Like Play by Nigerian artist Modupeola Fadugba explored play "as a form of resistance to the suppression of freedom of expression".

Fabric Monteiro stands in front of President, This is not a PhoenixRicci Shryock

Benin artist Fabrice Monteiro turned his attention on the ex-emperor of Central African Republic with his piece President, This is not a Phoenix. It was a model of Jean-Bedel Bokassa's throne, made out of solid gold.

Senegalese artist Baba Ly with his series on urbanismRicci Shryock

Senegalese artist Baba Ly displayed his series of interpretations on what it means to live in a built-up area

Students walk under a piece by entitled Ballearic Baifal at the IFAN Museum of African Artists as part of the Biennale of Contemporary African Art in Dakar, SenegalRicci Shryock

Other art brought in from outside the continent included this piece by Indian artists Pisurow Jitendra Suralkar and Sumesh Sharma.

Students walk by "City Circle" by Pradeep Thalawatta at the IFAN Museum of African Artists as part of the Biennale of Contemporary African Art in Dakar, Senegal.Ricci Shryock

Sri Lankan artist Pradeep Thalawatta's City Circle tackled feelings of isolation and loneliness in a big city.

Women in traditional Toucouleur outfits wait outside the official opening ceremony of Dakar's Biennale.Ricci Shryock

At the opening ceremony, which was attended by Senegalese President Macky Sall, women wore traditional Toucouleur outfits.

A video mapping project displays on Dakar's Hotel de Ville as part of the Dak'Art Binnalle.Ricci Shrock

Unexpected parts of Dakar became part of the art, including the capital's town hall.

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