The vibrant streets of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, have been transformed into a canvas of creativity as the city’s third annual art week graced the administrative district of Plateau and the working-class neighbourhood of Abobo. The event, which concluded last Sunday, marked a significant cultural milestone for Abidjan, signaling its emergence as a regional arts capital.
Night of the Galleries, a highlight of the week, saw over a dozen galleries and museums extending their hours well into the night, welcoming art enthusiasts for an after — hours tour. This initiative, which began during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, has since become a cherished tradition, showcasing the city’s commitment to fostering a vibrant arts scene.
Marie — Hélène Banimbadio Tusiama, a spokesperson for the art week, emphasized the event’s mission to democratize art. “It is about creating opportunities to encounter art beyond specific occasions, and fostering the idea of visiting not only to buy but to immerse oneself in the artist’s world, “she.
The art week’s growth has been mirrored by the expansion of its venues, from the contemporary arts hub of La Rotonde des Arts to the MuCAT Museum of Contemporary Cultures in Abobo. Abidjan’s rise as a cultural hub is further bolstered by the presence of a burgeoning local art collector community and the hosting of international events like the Africa Foto Fair at MuCAT.
Since 2022, the nation has embraced graffiti art, once stigmatized as vandalism, with a nationwide graffiti festival. This shift is evident in the vibrant murals that now adorn buildings and hotels in the Plateau district.
The event’s founder, Yacouba Konaté, director of La Rotonde des Arts, is keen on making the art week accessible to all. “We want this event to become increasingly visible and accessible to a broad public, “he. “One of the things we’re trying to do is really communicate, to tell people that Abidjan is a cultural city and that there is a visual arts scene in Côte d’Ivoire and this scene is alive.”.
The week commenced with a tribute to Simone Guirandou — N’Diaye, a pioneering art historian, and her daughter Gazelle, who now run Galerie LouiSimone Guirandou. The week concluded with an exhibition at MuCAT, featuring an artists workshop and a DJ set.
In Cocody, the upmarket district, a solo exhibition by New York — based artist Ouattara Watts at Galerie Cécile Fakhoury drew the attention of the Ivorian diaspora. Watts, who moved to New York in 1988, sees his art as universal, transcending geographical boundaries.
Source: The guardian
Original author: Eromo Egbejule in Abidjan
