Paris, France — The history books recount to us the Kingdom of Dahomey or Danxome, an economically and culturally powerful entity that was located in present-day Benin. Benin might be a small African nation but it remains a cultural powerhouse to this day as an exhibition currently underway in the Conciergerie, a listed national monument on the once royal island of La Cité in Paris, attests to. This colorful and educational exhibition is being presented by the Centre des monuments nationaux, the CMN, France’s institution devoted to the country’s national monuments in conjunction with the ADAC, Benin’s bureau for the development of the arts and culture of Benin. And while the exhibition showcases contemporary art, it underscores the historical, cultural, religious and very royal roots of Benin’s rich past, all of which are keenly woven into the narrative of the show.

Entitled Revelation! Contemporary Art from Benin, this colorful feast celebrating the country’s rich heritage brings together some 43 artists working in diverse mediums ranging from painting to sculpture, photography, installation and design. The visitor wends through three sections: Goddesses and Gods, Queens and Kings and Women and Men. The first section draws on Benin’s Vodun religion, which actually embraces a worldview encompassing philosophy, medicine and justice as well as religion and whose fundamental principle is that everything is spirit. While the Queens and Kings segment looks at the power and glory of the kings and queens of Abomey, one of the great royal lineages. Benin was the last of the great forest kingdoms to retain its independence and its achievements have been passed down through the generations. The final part of the show takes a look at contemporary society through the women and men living today in a world of globalization. The Benin exhibition is on until January 5th in the magnificent Gothic splendor of the Conciergerie, on the Palace of the Cité island, once home to the Capetian kings of France and worth a visit in and of itself. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette
Conciergerie: 2, boulevard du Palais 75001 Paris +33 (0)1 53 40 60 80. http://www.paris-conciergerie.fr