Mudslinging

A new photography exhibition by James Morris looks at the West African butabu, a mud building constructed by the whole community. Billy Leahy examines this unique phenomenon

The Yebe mosque in Mali smoothly rises from the earth like a super-sized termite's nest, supported by thick columns that possess an outward texture that resembles the skin of a decrepit rhinoceros with a dermatological condition. Crevasses and hairline cracks rampage through its buttresses, making it seem like it would be in danger of collapse at the slightest glance of the shoulder. And, well, as with every butabu building in the region, if it was neglected for just a few years it would eventually crumble and return again to the earth as mere dust. Two exhibitions by British photographer James Morris, entitled Butabu (the local term for mud), running simultaneously at the Gallery of Photography in Temple Bar and The Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, document these unique and ever-changing structures that are increasingly in danger from modernisation and urbanisation. In Ireland's maligned maritime climate, a building constructed wholly of mud would last about the same length as a shoddy sandcastle on Dollymount strand as the tide rolls in. But in the harsh, dry environment of West Africa, the local adobe architecture can well withstand the callous climatic conditions – albeit with a little helping hand. Just as mudslinging is a favourite pastime among purple-faced, vein-popping politicians in Ireland, it is also a cherished activity in West Africa – though the results are slightly more constructive. Communities gather annually to repair the delicate structures, adding a new coating of mud that regenerates and strengthens the buildings. This event underlines how the butabu buildings, although fragile and temporary, have strong foundations rooted in the local community and can provide a precise, and increasingly rare, example of how architecture can reflect the society that creates it. The fact these buildings are in constant repair and flux due to their annual replastering gives them a strong organic feel, similar in many ways to Gaudi's aesthetic, with no one window or column exactly the same as the next. These imperfections add an inimitable charm to the buildings, while the advanced use of light toys playfully with the African sunshine, which gives an animistic feel that echoes local traditional beliefs. Unlike the classical architecture of Western society, which now consists of crumbling ruins, the adobe buildings that fall into disrepair soon vanish, while the ones that are continuously used are maintained and renovated by the community. However, due to growing urbanisation and the resultant decline in population (that is, those who possess the necessary building skills), many of the current structures are in serious danger. This social factor – combined with the often gung-ho concrete construction methods beloved by the richer African states – could spell an end to the adobe style. The push towards high-speed modernisation in countries such as Nigeria may see the traditional mud buildings eventually replaced by the clean-lined functionality of poured-concrete and steel. For just as the adobe buildings reflect the local traditions and cultures, they also reflect the poverty of the region – they are, after all, built with the most basic, cheapest and ubiquitous material around. In order, therefore, to win the battle against modernisation, rural communities in countries such as Niger and Burkino Faso must remain in poverty – which is hardly something to strive towards. Adobe buildings do have one strong argument on their side; due to their thick walls they maintain a cool temperature indoors, even when the heat outside reaches 50° Celsius, so they are well suited to their unforgiving environment. If they can prove themselves a more suitable alternative to brick and tin-roof constructs, then they may live on. Otherwise it may be necessary to view their decline as a sad and tragic, but inevitable, result of welcome economic progress. ?More Butabu: Adobe Architecture of West Africa by James Morris. Gallery of Photography, Temple Bar until 23 October and Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray until 22 October. www.irish-photography.com, www.mermaidartscentre.ie