Benjamin Déguénon, God of Thunder, 2023. Sheet metal, spike, cans, sewing thread, hand-crafted string, 124 x 43 x 43 cm. Courtesy Galerie Vallois. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette. Benjamin Déguénon was born in Benin in Abomey (the capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey from 1600-1904) in 1982 and currently lives in Cotonou where his works revolve around the foundations of Beninese culture and spirituality. His recent sculptures draw their inspiration from totems.
Paris, France — Pensive paintings, eye-catching statues, intriguing works in myriad materials, performance art and more all emanating from the African continent and diaspora came together during one of the most intriguing of the art shows held last October in Paris, a month traditionally devoted to the arts with fairs, special events and exhibitions. AKAA, or the Also Known as Africa Art and Design Fair was held for the ninth time hosting some 41 international exhibitors and 100 artists working in myriad mediums, attracting the general pubic at large and collectors.
Charly D’Almeida, Avènements (Comings), 2022, presented by the Galerie Vallois. Oil on canvas, 130 x 130 cm. Courtesy Galerie Vallois. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette. Charly d’Almeida was born in Cotonou in 1968 and lives and works there today. He established a gallery and an artist-in-residence program there. Sculpture is one of his mediums of predilection and today he works with recuperated materials as well as iron, a material governed in Voodoo by the divinity known as Gou or Ogoun.
This year the Parisian Galerie Vallois showcased seven artists from the tiny Africa nation of Benin, known for its rich historical and cultural heritage. In a nod to the major exhibition of contemporary art of Benin being held in Paris at the Conciergerie, a major landmark and exhibition space on the Ile de la Cité. All of the artists that were exhibited in the Galerie Vallois spaces at AKAA were also represented at the Conciergerie.
Youss Atacora, A Wassangari Warrior, 2022, presented by the Galerie Vallois. Mixed technique on canvas, 220 x 290 cm. Courtesy Galerie Vallois. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette. Youss Atacora was born in 1988 in Djougou in Benin. He works and lives in the capital of Cotonou. His face bears scarifications marking his belonging to one of the three princely families of the city of Djougou home to a constituent monarchy. The three familes areAtacora, Kpeitoni and Gnora. He is self-taught and a spider features in many of his works.
The groundbreaking art show is typically dedicated to contemporary artists and designers of the African continent, and this year’s show was turned to the Americas, French overseas territories and the Caribbean, featuring a number of African-American artists. The show also offers a setting and showcase for artists who are unable to leave their countries of origin due to political or geo-political constraints to exhibit their works to an avid outside world. https://akaafair.com/en/
Benjamin Déguénon, Face au destin (Facing Destiny), 2021. Acrylic and white-out on canvas, 100 x 100 cm. Courtesy Galerie Vallois. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette
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