Out of Africa gallery presents Aboudia, Méné, Hamed Ouattara, Boureima Ouedraogo, Siaka Soppo Traore y Méderic Turay at AKAA (African Contemporary Art Fair)
ABOUDIA
Born in 1983 and graduate of the CTAA (Technological Centre of Applied Arts) in Abidjan, ABOUDIA acquired his style in the school of life on the streets. This life of ups and downs, laughter and tears, remains his driving force, although he was acclaimed by the international community of art critics and journalists for his work narrating the confrontations during the Abidjan civil war. ABOUDIA is distinguished for his large canvases, upon which he portrays innocence and spontaneity. These large format paintings display a Basquiat-like vitality, with an inside world where he fights for his dreams. A kid from Abidjan who wandered its streets, but who also roamed those of New York and London, passing through Johannesburg and now Barcelona in order to stimulate his vision. ABOUDIA likes to define himself as a cosmopolitan artist, jetting non-stop between different places and cultures. His canvases, acrylics or oils featuring collage, are found in major international collections and in particular in the Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC) of Jean Pigozzi, in Geneva, and the Frank Cohen Collection in London, as well as in the permanent collection of the Saatchi Gallery of New York.
MÉNÉ
Méné believes he has a role to play in society in the sense that he is a spokesperson, essential for the development of humanity. Current affairs, present day plagues, are an excuse to carry his message. The creator-artist destroys in order to build again, only this time with love, his only salvation. In his paintings, love and hate jostle with each other as one, just like humanity. In his work love and hate do not confront each other, but rather unite in a triumph of life. Influenced by cave painting, Méné uses this primitive printing as his means of expression. His work strives to be the continuity of an old civilisation enriched by modernism. This view of things guides the artist in his work, leading him to a minimalism of form and sobriety of colour. The artist feels the need to express himself using material and chooses various kinds of supports and pigments: earth, kaolin, sand, bark... bases and forms which make up a whole in a dynamic of fusing materials.
Hamed OUATTARA
Born in December 1971 in Ouagadougou, Hamed Ouattara first studied accountancy, then fashion, before establishing himself as a self taught painter. After training at the Olorun Foundation, he took a course as part of the 1996 edition of "Ouag'Art" and again trained in "design" at "The National Higher School of Industrial Design" in Paris in 2003. At the same time, he held exhibitions abroad in Belgium, Italy and France. In 2002, he won the "Creative Artist" competition prize at the SIAO in Ouagadougou and went on to win the "Order of Merit of Art, Literature and Communication Burkina Faso" in 2005. From then on things speeded up with exhibitions in 2006 at "Miami of Art", in art galleries of Senegal, Spain, Switzerland and during the "Cultural Panafrican Festival" in Algiers. Hamed Ouattara is rigorous, organized, clear, precise and efficient. Reflected in his rounded style are his numerous trips abroad, his time spent with the "ENSCI" and his extensive knowledge of design programs. He comes into his own with his designer furniture made from recycled metal from oil barrils. Hamed is at the crossroads of two cultures: one African...hot, colourful, rounded and unique, while the other is more organized, functional and detailed.
Boureima OUEDRAOGO
Winner of first prize in creativity by the UEMOA in the SIAO (International Salon of Art and Handicrafts of Ouagadougou), the works of Boureima were also selected by the Gallery Hassan II in Morocco and won third prize during the National Week of Culture in Burkina Faso. Boureima was born in 1982 and began studying with a master Malian craftsman in the traditional textile techniques of Bogolán and indigo dye. Under his guidance, he became familiar with the signs and symbols of the Dogon language. Boureima very quickly moved away from functional objects and perfected the art of lost wax bronze casting. Currently, Ouedraogo is one of the best bronze sculptors in Burkina Faso, recognized for his unusual creativity: freedom and expressive originality are key words in describing his work.
Siaka Soppo TRAORE
Through the eye of his lens, Siaka Soppo TRAORÉ takes possession of the treasures of the street to distinctly transmit the energy of the Senegalese street dancers. Like a visual and audible beckoning, his work is the fruit of human interaction and artistic expressions that combines contemplation, light and kinetic art. Like super heroes with really impressive moves, the photographer draws our attention hoping to shift ways of thinking and understanding the social impact of this form of artistic expression.
Siaka published his photographs in "L'INSENSÉ AFRICA" in 2014. In 2015, he exhibited at the 5th Biennale of Photography of the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, as well as at the 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair in London, where he received the "Orange" Prize for the best digital photographer.
Méderic TURAY
At the end of 1999, Mederic Turay is elected best young artist of West Africa. His unique style with oil and acrylic painting, pastels, coffee grounds and color glitters remembers us Basquiat's expressionism and Pablo Picasso's cubist compositions. His art work is recognized by the African and European critics, confirming the growing talent of this young artist with brilliant future. Following his succes, he recently realised a large mural in the Mohamed VI Museum of Contemporary Art of Rabat, he decorated train wagons between Rabat and Casablanca and of top of all, King of Morocco has bought a painting of Turay, whose signature attracts onwards the attention of European and American collectors.
SAVE THE DATES
Vernissage (Opening Night)
Thursday November 9th, 6 - 10pm
Art Fair Days
Friday November 10th, 11am - 8pm
Saturday November 11th, 11am - 8pm
Sunday November 12th, 11am - 6pm
