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Tag: art-history

  • “We Are All Bidons”: Romuald Hazoumè’s Jerrycan Masks Mock a Wasteful World

    “We Are All Bidons”: Romuald Hazoumè’s Jerrycan Masks Mock a Wasteful World

    Romuald Hazoumè’s voice—blunt, defiant, uncompromising—carries the same raw force as his iconic masks made from jerrycans. These sculptures, fashioned from discarded petrol containers, evoke Benin’s shadow economy of fuel smuggling with Nigeria, where many risk their lives transporting volatile loads on modified motorcycles for hidden profiteers. For decades, Hazoumè has transformed waste into works that…

  • Rosalie Boka: A Young Ivorian Artist Advocating for Nature

    Rosalie Boka: A Young Ivorian Artist Advocating for Nature

    DakArtNews met in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with Rosalie Boka, a 27-year-old Ivorian artist and a recent graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts in Abidjan. Passionate about nature and deeply concerned with environmental issues, she uses painting as a medium to raise awareness about the preservation of natural heritage and to highlight ecological challenges. Alongside her…

  • Kara Fall: “Music makes me dance on my canvas”

    Kara Fall: “Music makes me dance on my canvas”

    When entering Kara Fall’s studio, a soft jazz melody fills the air. Posters of famous blues and jazz figures adorn the space, along with his keyboard where he plays music between paintings. Fall’s abstract and figurative works, infused with his malian heritage, often bear a touch of jazz, adding a musical and rhythmic dimension to…

  • [Artwork Spotlight]: Aida Muluneh’s Striking “Conquest”

    [Artwork Spotlight]: Aida Muluneh’s Striking “Conquest”

    Our Artwork Spotlight today focuses on the work of Ethiopian photographer Aida Muluneh. “Conquest,” from her 2014 series “The Wolf You Feed,” is a visually striking and beautifully colorful piece. The photograph features a frontal portrait of a subject whose face is entirely painted blue, with a vertical line of black dots running from the…

  • Abdias Ngateu: Portraying Urban Life and Societal Dynamics in Cameroon

    Abdias Ngateu: Portraying Urban Life and Societal Dynamics in Cameroon

    Abdias Ngateu, a contemporary artist based in Douala, Cameroon, immerses us in a pictorial universe where humans and animals intertwine in a metaphorical dance rich in symbolism and social critique. His artistic journey, beginning in graphic arts and transitioning into plastic arts, reflects a constant evolution and a quest for meaning deeply rooted in the…

  • Abstracting Tradition: Souleymane Keita’s Artistic Fusion of African Heritage and Contemporary Expression

    Abstracting Tradition: Souleymane Keita’s Artistic Fusion of African Heritage and Contemporary Expression

    In the rich tapestry of African contemporary art, Souleymane Keita (1947-2014) stands out as a master who seamlessly blends abstract expressionism with profound cultural symbolism. His work, deeply influenced by his heritage and personal experiences, offers a unique perspective on the intersection of tradition and modernity. Ten years after his passing, the retrospective exhibition “Et…

  • Art and Enchantment: Tampidaro’s Avant-Garde Critique of Senegalese Belief and Superstition 

    Art and Enchantment: Tampidaro’s Avant-Garde Critique of Senegalese Belief and Superstition 

    The “Avant-garde” exhibition, organized by the Art Box gallery in Dakar, showcases the striking works of the emerging Senegalese artist Ibrahima Wone Bocoum, known as Tampidaro. Celebrated for his vibrant and colorful pieces, Tampidaro takes us this time into a world where art interrogates the deeply rooted beliefs in Senegalese society, particularly those related to…