Behind the vibrant modernity of Africa lays the mystic powers of vodoo, masks, body art and ancient rituals for the better of the worse. It is everywhere but nowhere to be seen, but something in my roots connects me with the energy of the continent.
This series is a modern expression of the forces of nature and spirits, conveying the unspeakable with raw materials that only Africans use in tribal arts such as wool, bits and pieces of modern trash and traditional fabrics used in costumes and symbols of mystic power.
It is yet another “métissage” between old and new, tradition and modernity, East and West that constitue my torn identity.
Nyiragongo, the divinity volcano
My artistic work lies at the crossroads between individual stories and the creative impulse of assembly. Through my collages, I explore the capacity of materials to reinvent themselves when they are extracted from their original context, juxtaposed, and stitched together. These fragments, once detached from their initial function, become entities in their own right, capable of telling a new story born from their encounter.
Each material I choose carries its own memory, texture, and language. By confronting and connecting them through stitching, I aim to create a space for dialogue. This space is both physical and symbolic, akin to an intimate conversation where differences become a source of mutual enrichment rather than division.
Through this process, I strive to give voice to a new reality, where materials—once ordinary and silent—become bearers of unique narratives. This act of assembling is a metaphor for human relationships: just as we weave connections with others, I weave, stitch, and associate disparate elements to create a coherent work, where harmony is built through diversity.
Ce projet explore le dialogue entre les cultures africaines et européennes à travers l'utilisation des statuettes . En les mélangeant , j’essaye de mettre en lumière les similitudes et les contrastes dans les pratiques de prière et de vénération des deux continents. Cette juxtaposition interroge la persistance et l'évolution des croyances religieuses à l'ère postcoloniale et encore aujourd’hui.
Les statuettes sont toutes deux des objets de dévotion utilisés dans des contextes rituels pour invoquer la protection, la guérison, et la bénédiction.
La vierge a l’enfant est souvent représenté car elle définie un symbole universel qui crée le lien.
Ce projet cherche à déclencher un dialogue autour de ces objets, en montrant comment les cultures interagissent et se transforment à travers le temps. En exposant ensemble des statuettes africaines et des statuettes de la Vierge et l'Enfant, j’espère susciter une prise de conscience sur la diversité et la complexité des pratiques religieuses.
