The Ivory Coast embassy became, during the Biennale, an Art exhibition center. It houses an exhibition of plastic art, statues and photographs.By Justin GOMIS –
The Ethique Art Conseils initiative, in collaboration with the Ivory Coast embassy in Dakar, brought together artists from various backgrounds under the theme “Cultural Connections”, last Saturday in the embassy premises. It is part of the Contemporary Art Biennale. An opportunity seized by artist photographers to demand support from the authorities. “There is no support from the authorities for photography at all. Photographic artists are in an impossible situation. When a painter asks for support, the government supports him. While we don’t even consider photographers,” denounced Ly Lagazelle, an Ivorian photographer based in Vienna, Austria. “We can sell a work of art for 5 million, but the same work in photography, people will say it’s photography, that everyone takes photos,” underlined the artist. For her, photo work is no less important. “She immortalizes a moment,” she said. Before asking the authorities in Africa to start developing support for photographers, to allow them to establish themselves almost anywhere in the world.
This concern for the lack of support for artists will soon be a thing of the past if we rely on the confidences of Professor Alassane Thiam, director of the Cabinet of the Minister of Culture of Côte d’Ivoire. “Most artists complain of not being supported. Unfortunately, they have often remained in the subsidy rather than setting up a business to qualify for funding. Financing is being put in place within the various banking institutions. UEMOA has promised to set up a fund ranging from 20 to 800 billion within three to four years. Artists will now be able to benefit from these funds. It is important for the future of cultural activities,” he informed, rejoicing that the embassy agreed to support the exhibition of works. “Through this, it is especially about promoting artists. “It’s important because creative and cultural works are taking a place that you can’t imagine within financial institutions,” he said.
To better express himself on the cultural connection, Ly Lagazelle chose to work on three themes in his exhibition. “I experience a lot of gender discrimination. I’m into anthropology talking about cultural identity and self-identity. I’m also in the environment talking about the impact of the environment. With this project, it’s basically anthropology, where I talk about man’s link with the earth, about cultural identity. Gender discrimination doesn’t just affect women. There are men victims of violence,” she explained about her work.
The Ivory Coast embassy wanted to show the importance of culture through exhibitions of plastic art, masks, statues and photographs.
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