A certain Art of living can be attributed to Saint-Louis, first capital of Senegal, city of the Signares, city of knowledge and city of culture. Germaine Anta Gaye, a native of the city, is the memory bearer of this art of living which she translated in this exhibition as part of the 15th edition of the Biennale of Contemporary African Art in Dakar. Installations in the form of a retrospective of the different works created by this artist who met practically all the presidents of the Republic of Senegal for her work. Its installation at the old courthouse in Dakar leaves no one indifferent. In this interview, she talks about her journey, her beginnings and especially her installation.
It is a real family setting with its well-decorated living room – with a myriad of objects, its rooms, its corridors and its garden that Germaine Anta Gaye offers to the visitor through her installation, at the old courthouse in Dakar . The main attraction of this reconstituted family universe within the courthouse is in many ways reminiscent of a certain elegance of Saint-Louisian women. Inside the living room, there is, for example, a pedal sewing machine or even a pith helmet on a coat rack… This magnificent living room that leaves no one indifferent
Godmother of the 15th edition of Dak’art, Germaine Anta Gaye explores in her installation a diversity of under-glass painting techniques as well as frames (glass and wood). A free artist, detached from academic techniques, she became a great artist when in truth, she was more prepared to transmit than to practice art.
Trained to be an arts educator, Germaine Anta Gaye, who seems to say that art is too serious to be left solely in the hands of artists, quickly got involved, not to say put the hand in the paint can.
Passion in hand, she took up the brush herself and started painting many years ago. She was right because she had her place in the Senegalese and African artistic sector. The Saint-Louisienne has enjoyed a dazzling and inspiring career as an artist combined with her vocation as a teacher. The one who is attached to her hometown of Saint-Louis and travels all over the world with the soul of Saint-Louis in her suitcases, has illustrated herself in a very beautiful way in the coaster painting even if she is in a certain eclectic measure as a painter. The 15th edition of contemporary African art in Dakar does well to honor his lifetime.
A trained arts teacher, she also became an established artist through passion. Which makes her both a practitioner and an art theoretician. As a teacher, Germaine Anta Gaye has contributed to the training of hundreds of artists of whom she is proud of what they have become today. Through her installation, she knew how to capture the attention of any visitor to the former courthouse. Whoever you are, wherever you come from and whatever your faith, Germaine has a message for you. She speaks to you regardless of your age and gender. His creation transcends all possible and imaginable differences.
