Set in East Africa’s Afar region, in the Danakil Depression—where temperatures regularly soar to 120°F—Addis Ababa-based photographer Aïda Muluneh explores issues around access to water in a new body of work commissioned by international NGO WaterAid. 

Each of the images in Water Life features a strong female protagonist, highly saturated colors, and symbolic gestures signalling the daily hardships women endure across the globe to collect water for their families. 

"When you look at climate change, scarcity of land, and overpopulation, there are many issues that lead back to water," says the photographer. "I didn’t realise how deep it went—all the way to education and how this impacts young girls, who often have to collect water rather than go to school. I wanted to use my artwork for a sense of purpose.”

London-based director Adeyemi Michael captured this lyrical portrait of Muluneh at work and provides an elevated behind-the-scenes glance of the photographer's arresting series. 

“Women who know their power are magical,” says Michael. “Aïda is certainly one of those, and her images are iconic. When I was asked to make a film about her process representing the plight of women without access to water, there was an instant synergy with themes in my work, which speaks to the empowerment of African women.”

As the founder of Addis Foto Fest—a biannual arts festival in the Ethiopian capital—Muluneh is committed to uniting Africa and the world through photography. Water Life dismantles the single narrative told about the continent by incorporating visual references from African cultural heritage into a contemporary aesthetic.

Water Life is on at Somerset House in London during the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, and through to 20 October 2019. Find out more here