The exhibition "Art/Afrique, le nouvel atelier" presented at the Fondation Louis Vuitton includes two exhibitions, along with a selection of works from the permanent collection.
- The Insiders: a selection of works (1989-2009) from the Jean Pigozzi collection of contemporary African art.
Chief curator: Suzanne Pagé
Advisor: André Magnin
Assistant Curators: Angéline Scherf, Ludovic Delalande
Architect: Marco Palmieri
- Being there, South Africa, a contemporary scene
Curators : Suzanne Pagé and Angéline Scherf, with Ludovic Delalande and Claire Staebler
Architect: Marco Palmieri
- Collection of the Fondation Louis Vuitton: a selection of African artworks.
> Focus on "The Insiders"
The Insiders brings together works by fifteen iconic artists from the Jean Pigozzi collection of African art, displayed for the first time in Paris. Businessman Jean Pigozzi began collecting contemporary African art in 1989. He relied on the advice of André Magnin, a pioneer who travelled extensively, visiting artists living and working in sub-Saharan Africa, in French-, English-, and Portuguese-speaking countries. Without the assistance of cell phones, Internet, or social media, Jean Pigozzi and André Magnin were able to forge genuine connections with the artists they encountered, coming to a deep understanding of the freedom and originality of their work. This commitment guided them in assembling a unique collection of works that express strong political positions, representative of the diversity of the contemporary African scene from 1989 to 2009.
The artists included in the exhibition, each deeply influenced by the spiritual, scientific, and technical lore of their country of origin, use different means to create unique worlds.
Asserting its openness and eclecticism, the Jean Pigozzi collection includes a representative group of each artist’s work. In this way, it brings a new awareness to a scene unknown to a larger public until now, thus playing a key role in developing its international audience and impact.
The exhibition includes works by Frédéric Bruly Bouabré, Seni Awa Camara, Calixte Dakpogan, John Goba, Romuald Hazoumè, Seydou Keïta, Bodys Isek Kingelez, Abu Bakarr Mansaray, Moke, Rigobert Nimi, J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere, Chéri Samba, Malick Sidibé, and Barthélémy Toguo.
Pascale Martine Thayou will create a site-specific work for the exhibition.
> Cultural Programme
- Cinema weekend: a Tribute to African Filmmakers, May, 12-14, 2017 > Website
- Nocture Art/Afrique #1, Friday, June, 2, 2017, 7-11 pm > Website
- Poetic weekend: carte blanche to the writer Alain Mabanckou, June, 24-25, 2017 > Website
- Nocture Art/Afrique #2, Friday, July, 7, 2017, 7-11 pm > Website
- Nocture Art/Afrique #3, Friday, September, 1rst, 2017, 7-11 pm > Website
Art/Afrique. Le nouvel atelier
Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, France
April, 26 - September, 4, 2017
Website
Exhibition view: © Fondation Louis Vuitton / Marc Domage + photographies by MAGNIN-A
Outside views: © Fondation Louis Vuitton / Iwan Baan