Galerie Labaraque in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is currently presenting Keren Lasme‘s solo exhibition, entitled “Et si on prenait le temps… d’être présent.” This exhibition, which runs from April 7 to May 17, 2023, is the first by the Ivorian interdisciplinary artist.
With this exhibition, Keren Lasme celebrates solitude, contemplation and the art of the act of being present. Through still images, an immersive video installation and a book installation, the artist asks what the Earth communicates about its states of being and becoming.
To answer this question, the artist takes a meditative and surreal approach, inviting the viewer to see the mundane and everyday of life from different angles, through enchanting and fantastical perspectives. Her work is inspired by writer Minna Salami’s essay “Exousiance: A Black Feminist Vision of Power and Nature“, in which she discusses the fabulous and otherworldly characteristics of nature.
Keren Lasme creates worlds by sewing portals into the natural world, inviting ease and peace, elevating the mind and calm. Her healing and hypnotic images capture the pulse of the Earth by exploring the rhythm of nature through patterns, movement, sound and light.
The book installation is an important element of the exhibition, serving to contextualize the artist’s work and offering a multitude of perspectives on how it can be read. From spirituality to poetry, from sacred medicine to surrealism, Keren Lasme highlights the works of Jorge Amado, Maryse Condé, Sobunfu Somé and Jean Cayrol, to name a few.
In sum, “Et si on prenait le temps… d’être présent” is an immersive and meditative exhibition that invites the viewer to reflect on our relationship with nature and the world around us. Through her work, Keren Lasme reminds us of the importance of taking time to be present, to connect with our environment, to see beyond the surface and explore our own minds. The exhibition is a must-see event for art lovers and anyone interested in exploring these essential themes.