Last March, the ellipse prize, a competition for contemporary African art, announced the opening of its fourth edition on Beninese soil. Organized under the theme “Contemporary Tradition”, many artists competed for this unique opportunity to shine on the world art scene. On Thursday May 23, the selection committee met to choose the five finalists for the ellipse 2024 prize. Today, the competition juries are delighted to present the 5 finalists of this fourth edition dedicated to emerging artists residing in Benin and to Beninese residing on the African continent.
The finalists for the ellipse 2024 prize were carefully selected from 72 entries by an independent jury of renowned contemporary art professionals. They include such emblematic figures of the Beninese art scene as Armelle Dakouo, artistic director of AKAA and independent curator; Dominique Zinkpè, Beninese visual artist and president of the Centre d’Abomey-Calavi; Céline Coyac Atindehou, director of the Red House Hotel ; and Lylly Houngnihin, executive director of Laboratorio Arts Contemporains.
The talented artists chosen for this artistic adventure are Marcel Kpoho, Nauld Adjahuime, Nella Aguessy, Nobel Koty and Océane-Maria Adjovi. This year, they will have the unique opportunity to showcase their creativity through a group exhibition at Cotonou’s Red House. This innovative art competition initiative will enable artists to see their work sublimated within this renowned hotel establishment, famous for its events promoting local artistic creativity.
This new initiative by the art program underlines its reinforced commitment to the local art scene in Benin and on the African continent as a whole. The opening of the group exhibition of finalists for the ellipse 2024 prize will take place on June 27, and the exhibition will run until July 19. The winner of this long-awaited fourth edition will be announced on Tuesday June 18, and will be offered a prestigious exhibition at the AKAA – ALSO KNOWN AS AFRICA international art fair, scheduled for October 18 to 20, 2024. What’s more, he will benefit from tailor-made professional and media support to propel his artistic career to new heights. While you wait for the exciting next part of this program, don’t hesitate to discover and appreciate the creativity of the talented finalists of the ellipse 2024 Prize.
MARCEL KPOHO
Marcel Kpoho is a versatile artist, born in 1988 in Porto-Novo, Benin. Initially a math teacher, in 2017 he decided to devote himself fully to his passion for painting and sculpture. His commitment to the environment is reflected in his work, where he uses recycled tires to create bold, monumental sculptural works that capture attention and invite reflection. Through his work, Marcel Kpoho addresses important social and political issues, such as environmental problems, injustice to women, sexism and racism.
He uses the tire as a contemporary symbol of the strength and resilience of people of color, emphasizing the ability to transform and adapt in a constantly changing world. In his artistic practice, Marcel Kpoho uses a distinctive technique based on drawings of triangles, symbolizing his determination and constant progression. Through his art, he seeks to raise awareness and encourage the public to reflect on the current and future challenges facing humanity and the planet. His work arouses intense reactions, oscillating between rejection and admiration, but never leaves anyone indifferent, testifying to the emotional and visual power of his creations.
NELLA AGUESSY
Nella Aguessy, aka BigMotha, is a talented photographer from Benin born in 1990. Her passion for photography began in her early travels, when she started using her father’s analog camera. Her studies in economics, political science and photojournalism have influenced her artistic approach, and she strives to create a unique narrative through each of her works.
Through her photographic projects, Nella Aguessy seeks to raise debates on pressing social issues and bring about change. For the artist, art and artistic creation are powerful tools for raising awareness and combating racism and inequality around the world. Her photographic series “We Can’t Breathe” is a poignant and moving testimony to this vision, highlighting the struggles and suffering of the black community in a complex social and political context.
Nella Aguessy combines the visual aesthetic and evocative power of photography to convey strong, engaging messages. Her captivating, striking images invite viewers to reflect, question and act on contemporary injustices and challenges. Her work embodies a form of artistic activism that aims to inspire change and promote justice and equality for all.
NOBEL KOTY
Nobel Koty, a Beninese painter born in 1988 in Cotonou, focuses primarily on the self-portrait in his artistic work. Through his works, he expresses his frustration and emotions in the face of a stereotyped world where he has difficulty finding his place. A drawing enthusiast since childhood, he turned to painting as a means of exploring the various facets of the self-portrait, attracted by the infinite possibilities offered by this artistic medium.
In constant search of himself, Nobel Koty depicts himself on a white background, detaching himself from all that is superficial to focus on the essential. His figurative works explore the various emotional states of the human being, highlighting concepts such as identity, fragility and time. This exploration enables her to better understand herself and, consequently, others.
The practice of self-portraiture enables the artist to reappropriate his body, to reconstruct it in the face of an external reality that he often finds aggressive. By tirelessly painting himself, Nobel Koty seeks to transcend his internal suffering and affirm his existence. His self-portraits reflect his inner struggles, but also his quest for resilience and self-acceptance. Through his art, he explores the depths of the human soul, inviting viewers to reflect on their own identity and innermost emotions.
OCEANE-MARIA ADJOVI
Océane-Maria Adjovi, born in 1996 in Porto Novo, Benin, is a young Beninese painter. After studying at the Graduate School of Administration, Economics and Audiovisual Trades in Benin, she decided to pursue her artistic training at the Beaux-Arts in Paris, France, in order to develop and deepen her visual arts practice.
In her work, Océane-Maria Adjovi reinterprets religious codes to create her own artistic language. Her paintings are allegories of her own experience of penitence, exploring themes of spirituality, redemption and resilience. Using religion as a starting point, the artist creates works that are both personal and universal, inviting the viewer to reflect on existential and spiritual questions.
NAULD ADJAHUIME
Nauld Adjahuime, whose real name is François Arnaud Adjahuime, is a talented Beninese photographic artist who has been working in this field for 8 years. Born in Cotonou in 1992, he draws his inspiration from the cultural richness of his country and translates it into captivating, aesthetically pleasing images.
Nauld Adjahuime’s photographs capture the essence of communities, traditions and human experiences. His images communicate with remarkable depth and vividness, plunging us into the heart of everyday life in Benin. Skillfully blending photojournalism and creative aesthetics, he offers a renewed vision of the often overlooked beauty of these everyday moments.
She is also interested in ancestral rites and their perpetuation among younger generations. Nauld Adjahuime explores this theme by fusing the abstract and the figurative, the mystical and the material, offering a contemporary and captivating vision of voodoo cults. His ability to blend tradition and modernity is reflected in his photographic work, where he manages to capture the timeless essence of Beninese culture while infusing it with a touch of creativity and renewal.
With his unique vision and artistic sensibility, Nauld Adjahuime invites us to discover a Benin rich in tradition and spirituality, while questioning our own relationship with the past and modernity. His photographs are a vibrant testimony to the diversity and beauty of Beninese culture, offering an authentic and inspiring look at a country and tradition that are often overlooked.
ellipse 2024 Prize: finalists at Maison Rouge
On Thursday June 27, Cotonou’s Maison Rouge inaugurates the ellipse 2024 prize finalists’ exhibition. Immerse yourself in a light, eclectic atmosphere where the works on display transport you to the heart of Beninese culture.
Visitors will be captivated by the depth of the various artistic mediums used and the relevance of the themes addressed. Marcel Kpoho, Nella Aguessy, Nobel Koty, Maria Adjovi and Nauld Adjahuime express their creativity and their attachment to Benin’s rich cultural heritage through softly hued paintings, intriguingly colored negative photographs, sculptures made from unusual materials, and captivating introspective portraits.
This exhibition highlights the creative dynamism of the ellipse prize finalists, reflecting the country’s artistic diversity. The event runs until July 19, offering the public the chance to discover works exploring universal themes such as identity, traditions, social issues and environmental protection.
Make sure you don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover an artistic event where creativity and local culture come together to give life to works representative of the vitality of Benin’s contemporary art scene.