West Indian artists exhibited at a contemporary art fair in Paris

Vibrant Creole art is gradually finding its place in these major international events, such as this AKAA fair, which has been held since 2016 in the capital. This year’s invitation gives great pride to the Guadeloupean of origin Florence Gossec, sculptor of poetic objects who exhibits her works on the Maison Gaston stand.

That means a lot. It’s international visibility, people will get to know me a little more and I’m very happy to be there!

This Caribbean opening in an international fair is quite simply because the creators deserve it according to Audrey Bangou, who serves as a link between our islands and the German gallery ArtCo, which represents the Guadeloupean artist Béliza Troupé.

There is a scene of artists of Caribbean ancestry that is scattered around the world and whose work is very lively, very broad, very different and very interesting. There is growing interest and the fact that AKAA is opening up to this scene also proves it.

Lineage and exchanges

In the aisles also, we find Maison Gaston, which is 100% dedicated to Creole art, which is participating in its first contemporary art fair of this magnitude, which is also linked to Africanity. A natural rapprochement for founder Christelle Clairville.

It’s interesting to include Creoleness in this movement. We can do that, yes! When we are West Indian, we are European, African, Indian at the same time… We have our place here!

A link that is explored by Saint-Martin resident Florence Poirier Nkpa, an artist from France who develops collaborations in the West Indies with African counterparts, such as the Nigerian Ade Adesina, based in Scotland… A mixture of cultures which nourishes creation.

It’s fascinating because these are two worlds that are similar with different cultures. There is this shock in this four-handed work. It’s very Creole because this anchoring in different cultures allows us to find ourselves and it’s important to create links.

The riches of Creoleness are illustrated until Sunday at the AKAA contemporary art fair at the Carreau du Temple, in Paris.