Revelation! Contemporary Art from Benin at the Conciergerie
Dive into the vibrant world of contemporary Beninese art at the Conciergerie until January 5, 2025! This unprecedented exhibition invites you to discover captivating works and meet talented artists from a rich cultural heritage.
Until January 5 2025, the Conciergerie hosts the exhibition « Revelation! Contemporary Art from Benin, » showcasing the overflowing creativity of Benin’s contemporary art scene. Under the high patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, this exhibition brings together around forty artists and over a hundred works, some of which are being shown for the first time.
The exhibited works reflect the richness of Benin’s cultural heritage, rooted in tradition while projecting into the future. With various mediums ranging from painting to sculpture, video, and design, each piece invites reflection on identity, history, and contemporary challenges.
Among the artists showcased are prominent figures such as Georges Adéagbo, Laeïla Adjovi, and Meschac Gaba. Each brings their own voice and unique vision, exploring themes from vodun cults to current social struggles. The carefully selected works capture the essence of Beninese culture and its evolution in a globalized world.
An Exhibition in Three Chapters
This section explores the transformation of deities in vodun worship, highlighting their central role in Benin’s spirituality and culture.
In this part, artists pay tribute to the majesty of the queens and kings of Abomey, emblematic of the power and glory of a bygone era.
This final section features works that give voice to those who live and fight in our modern society, faced with the challenges of a constantly evolving world.
Initially presented at the Palais de la Marina in Cotonou in February 2022, the exhibition has already been hosted by the Mohammed VI Museum in Rabat and the Clément Foundation in Martinique. This journey reflects Benin’s commitment to highlighting its contemporary creation on the international scene, in preparation for the future Museum of Contemporary Art in Cotonou (MACC).
The exhibition is curated by Yassine Agnikè Lassissi, who has worked closely with Emmanuel Daydé, an art historian. Together, they have created an enriching dialogue between classic and contemporary art from Benin. Institutional and media partnerships support this initiative, allowing for wide dissemination and better accessibility to art.
For more information : https://www.paris-conciergerie.fr/agenda/revelation-!-art-contemporain-du-benin
