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“The greatest mysteries,
come in threes.
Birth, life, death
The past, the present and the future.”
Our project S e l f - C o n t i n u i t y explores the interconnections between one’s past, present and future to gather a collective consciousness. A collective manifestation deeply rooted in individual awareness and universal values to ensure a harmonious future. Values of borderless and unconditional love, respect, empathy and compassion - for the present moment, for each other, for the environment.
Witnessed through the eyes of contemporary artists, the exhibition navigates learnings for us to keep in their blooming cognisance. Traveling from Africa, continent of 54 countries equal a variety of diverse cultures, religions, politics and environment; the works intend to evoke questions of self-identity, retaining harmony and relation within and between communities. In the depth of Ugandan artist Francis Nnaggenda’s words, “I’ve come to realise that when you look at the core, we are the same, we are the same…if we can’t learn from ourselves then we become…thin.”
The choice of the unique artists from eight countries; address contemporary challenges with reflection on their ideas, beliefs, values, and representations of their communities. In the spirit to convey - we are one.
S e l f - C o n t i n u i t y has set sight on finding a common thread of union and dialogue between the artworks.
This dialogue will be further developed through artist interviews, para-curatorial program and formally through an exhibition project. To merge together the great depth and diversity of the artists, the chosen works take a thematic approach in its context and medium.
Curatorial Statement
SELF-DISCOVERY
The dialogue dives by deconstructing stereotypes of the vast Africa, only to reconnect its cultural richness with self-identity. In its nature, identities are fluid and therefore complex, art is playing a role of self-discovery.
Photographs by Marc Posso (b. Libreville, Gabon) reinterpret and remind the African heritage to his community and the world. In fact, for him identity is not based on being black or being African but on the way we value our culture and customs.
Alongside, Delphine Diallo gracefully raises power to women. “…I want to bring a great new vision of black female archetypes: the explorer, the queen, the goddess, the innocent, the sage, the mother, the caregiver, the ruler, the lover, the spiritual warrior, the magician, the everywoman, so many others.” She continues, to remind us, “It is the birth of the divine feminine within me (and within all of us ) that comes through our families and ancestors, an energy which was once oppressed.”
“All the gods, all the heavens, all the hells,
are within you”
- Joseph Campbell
(mythologist, writer and lecturer)
Paintings of Omar Mahfoudi (b. Tangier Morocco) submerge us in an emotional state of letting go. He seeks to reinterpret and rewrite the human history emotions. It evokes us to not suppress our emotions but to completely feel them, to expand our hearts as human beings. For Omar Mahfoudi, painting was his first language, it helped him to explore his society’s images and destinies from different perspectives. For him the discovery of the world, our relation to it and to each other is possible (and way more easier) through art.
Inspired by his personal history, Nana Yaw Oduro pictorial compositions show his emotions through actions. The photographer explores topics echoing his personal life through masculinity, boyhood, feelings, and self-acceptance. Based in Ghana, the environment plays an important role in Nana’s work. After the chromatic treatment on the bold and raw colours, his images produce a certain softness and harmony between shapes and colours, between man and nature; underpinning the narrative.
ONENESS
“We are intricately and inextricably intertwined to
share a common destiny
with things, creatures, environment and people.
I see you in me.”
- Curator of S e l f - C o n t i n u i t y-
Hand-painted photographs of Saïdou Dicko (b. Déou Burkino Faso) originate from his fascination of shadows and exploration through drawing; inviting us in a game of shadow work. He finds pleasure in bringing together the opposites to talk to us about equality, union, maternal love, freedom, humanity…
“Why did we become spectators of drama that we
could have avoided?
Why are we so alone in the middle of all?
I’m just a shadow, your shadow, their shadows, my shadow.”
-Saïdou Dicko-
(Artist)
As the exhibition transitions, it addresses environment regeneration. Made from recycled clothes, Georgina Maxim (Harare, Zimbabwe) weaves soft sculpture installations. In the words of Anne Lafont (art historian) “The work [of Georgina Maxim] therefore aims to repair wounds, to take care of bodies and minds damaged by a memory in the form of raw suffering or blunt agent.” She further goes on to say, “The art of memory is therefore presented as a political weapon and as a treatment.”
MANIFESTATION
“We are what we think,
Our thoughts attract events of similar frequency.
Here, together we manifest compassion.”
- Curator of Self-Continuity
Three-dimensional works of Kelani Abass (Lagos, Nigeria) develop an attachment between the past and present. It is a reminder of the close interconnection and intersection between our ancestors and us, flowing to generations to come. The artist mixes original or painted ancient photographic portraits, metallic typefaces and other elements from the world of printing. The work on memory and the importance of archives take another shape in his graphic pieces: as he multiplies numbered stamping marks on sheets of paper, Kelani Abass propers a new comprehension of the image. The artist then brings to light these fragile and personal testimonies of a bygone era of a Nigeria celebrating its independence.
Hyacinthe Ouattara (b. Burkina Faso) questions the ambivalence between appearance and disappearance, representation and intimacy, and identity in the broad sense. His unique style and approach manifest the idea of fleeting and eternal.
To manifest in the present moment for the future and surrounded by our past, The Wall of Manifestation is a concluding, open and interactive piece. The piece allows you to create an intimate space, where you can take time to write down and share a manifestation you want to make for yourself. By pinning it on the blank canvas we manifest for our future. The thread symbolises the connection among us and an emergence of a collective manifestation.
Through the exhibition, Self-Continuity invites you to submerge yourself in the works and perceive them as points of departure or continuation of your reflection. The exhibition further endeavours to understand each artist with close relation to their land and all it contains. In collaboration with ten unique artists, we aim to create a borderless synthesis and acceptance between us and our past, present and future.
“To take on the truth of the other is to try to understand oneself.”
- Exhibition : Memoria: Accounts of Another History
FRAC Nouvelle - Acquitaine MÉCA. Feb 5 - Nov 20, 2021
S e l f - C o n t i n u i t y is here to unfurl love within you - for the present moment, for each other, for the environment.
Re-awaken yourself to unveil your godhood. As, if you will, have choice and power to determine your present.