Winner of the artistic competition “Qui dit mieux? » 2024 organized by Promo Jeunes ASBL, the work will be exhibited in Brussels and Wallonia, followed by an auction evening.
- Tournai
Opening: 17.04 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the ESA Saint-Luc Theater in Tournai.
The exhibition will then be accessible from April 18 to April 25 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding weekends).
- Brussels
Opening: 21.05 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Espace Magh.
Exhibition from 21.05 to 30.05 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding weekends).
- Namur
Opening: 25.06 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Gery Art Gallery.
Exhibition from June 24 to June 30 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (excluding weekends).
About the work
KURABŪKA [Regain consciousness] presents itself as a striking expression of the profound metamorphosis of African masks illegally held by museums around the world, thus standing as a witness to their spiritual transformation.
Once functional artifacts, imbued with life and playing an essential role within their respective communities, a considerable portion of these masks today find themselves prisoners of foreign environments, frozen in an ornamental state, devoid of any vitality and untouchable.
This work transcends the border between the living, represented by the golden part, and the inert, symbolized by the white part, thus illustrating the transition from an animated mask, an open look at the world, to a state of atrophy, the eye now closed.
Two Adinkras symbols , imbued with historical and philosophical meaning from the Akan people, are skillfully incorporated into the whole.
The first, "Gye Nyame" , bursts into a golden hue, embodying the Akan people's unwavering faith in the Supreme Being and affirming the supremacy of God over all existence.
The second, "Mmere Dane", unfolds in a silvery shade, carrying within it the powerful message that times are changing. It evokes the temporality of good times, reminding us that fortune is not eternal, and the lucky should not boast; likewise, difficult situations do not last, and those less fortunate should not give up.
KURABŪKA is a call to awaken consciousness.
The consciousness of masks.
The consciousness of the people.