During a press conference devoted to the presentation of the exhibition whose opening is scheduled for this Wednesday in Rabat, Mr. Qotbi stressed that this African artist who has brilliantly succeeded in establishing himself on the artistic scene on an international scale highlights the cultural heritage and artisanal know-how of the Kingdom.
“Inspired by Moroccan culture and its centuries-old crafts, Toguo has created a series of new works for this exhibition, mixing paintings, drawings, ceramics, tapestries and zellige, while maintaining his bold and recognizable signature,” noted the director of the FNM.
Mr. Qotbi also recalled that the FNM has organized several events that celebrate Africa, such as “Africa in Capital”, “Lights of Africa” or “Bamako Dreams 30”, in accordance with the clear-sighted vision of HM King Mohammed VI calling for the promotion of African creation.
For her part, the exhibition curator, Androula Michael, stressed that Barthélémy Toguo “transposes his own universe and iconography, and resonates with the beauty of craftsmanship, culture, nature, as well as the ancestral traditional arts of the Kingdom.”
Ms. Michael stressed that the exhibition “Stronger Together”, which includes works entirely made in Morocco, reinterprets Moroccan craftsmanship and art while highlighting its importance and age-old beauty, explaining that the artist wanted to interact with the Moroccan universe in its entirety for this unique exhibition.
This versatile artist, who has several artistic works to his credit, also addresses extremely important social, environmental and political issues in his works, thus encouraging reflection, she noted.
For his part, Cameroonian artist Barthélémy Toguo expressed his fascination with the richness of Moroccan craftsmanship and heritage, explaining that he focused on Moroccan ceramics and tapestry in this exhibition, while bringing a personal touch of his particular graphic universe.
“I chose to work across mediums because they were old techniques and I wanted to see how I could combine them with my existing artistic universe,” he added.
Regarding the title of his exhibition “Stronger Together”, Mr. Toguo stressed that it is a kind of call for solidarity between people, generations, artists and artisans for a better world.
“Stronger Together” unveils more than a hundred new works, designed by Barthélémy Toguo in Morocco in a total immersion with its culture and crafts. Paintings, drawings, ceramics, tapestries and zellige make up a remarkable visual ensemble where ancestral traditions and contemporary inspirations blend.
Alongside these creations, performance videos and a major installation dedicated to Bandjoun Station, an art center and artist residency founded by Toguo in Cameroon, invite the public to discover the artist’s abundant universe and his commitment to the African continent.
A protean contemporary artist among the most important in the world, Barthélémy Toguo places this exhibition under the sign of dialogue with Moroccan culture. The title of Barthélémy Toguo’s exhibition evokes solidarity, a central value for the artist, which includes fraternity, reciprocity, unity and cooperation.
2024-08-30 05:27:27