"Fragments d’origines : Une odyssée ancestrale" by Victorien Bazo

Victorien Bazo takes over Bwo Gallery in Douala for an exclusive solo show entitled “Fragments d’origines: Une odyssée ancestrale (Fragments of Origins: An Ancestral Odyssey) ”. Scheduled to run until October 26, this first solo gallery show marks a significant step forward on the contemporary art scene. Presented in a singular narrative style, the works of this Cameroonian artist offer a captivating insight into his artistic practice, capturing moments of everyday life with joy and warmth.

A native of Njissé, Victorien Bazo’s art explores a deep and rich cultural heritage. More than a simple aesthetic exercise, his work is nourished by reflections on the complex interactions between history and cultural identity. The exhibition “Fragments d’origines: Une odyssée ancestrale” bears witness to this approach, in which the painter brilliantly combines traditional roots with the evolutions of contemporary identity. Beyond the shimmering decorations, her works invite visitors to take part in an immersive experience, triggering a visual dialogue where personal reflections and universal themes such as cultural hybridity and exodus mingle.

His creative practice, informed by a background in narrative art and comics, brilliantly captures the tension and beauty of cultural duality. Through vibrant compositions and layered visual narratives, Victorien Bazo re-examines notions of authenticity and belonging. He questions with finesse the meaning of being both rooted and uprooted in an ever-changing world. His works, presented in “Fragments d’origines: Une odyssée ancestrale”, are a tribute to the resilience of memory and tradition, revisited for the 21st century.

Playing with vignette-style compositions, Victorien Bazo constructs his canvases as complex mosaics where perspectives merge, offering an enriched vision of the human experience in an era of vivid globalization. Each painting becomes a field of visual exploration, an invitation to plunge into the richness of shared narratives.

Drawing inspiration from the Bamiléké countries of West Cameroon, the artist infuses her creations with a depth that is both personal and collective. Each canvas is adorned with symbolic elements and motifs, from the most visible to the most discreet, forming a bridge between the contemporary and cultural heritage. This nod to his ethnic roots testifies to his community’s adaptation to modernity without denying what has shaped it. Through his art, Victorien Bazo weaves a vibrant narrative, where past and present come together and each work becomes a tribute to an ever-evolving identity.

“Fragments d’origines: Une odyssée ancestrale” establishes a powerful dialogue between past and present, confronting the viewer with the constant reconciliation between heritage and modernity. “It has taken me an enormous amount of time to create this work, which is the fruit of several years of deep reflection, but also of travels undertaken to better understand the heritage of my ancestors,” says Victorien Bazo, ”This exhibition therefore represents for me a moment of sharing and, above all, of criticism.”

In 2021, the Cameroonian artist was honored with the prestigious Barthélémy Toguo Prize, marking a decisive turning point in his career and propelling him onto both the local and international art scenes. In 2024, he presented a solo exhibition at the Institut Français de Douala, adding a new dimension to his career. His works have also found their way into renowned collective events such as Art X Lagos (2022), African Arty in Casablanca and Marrakech (2023), Bandjoun Station (2023) and Alexis Gallery in Lagos (2024).

Through “Fragments d’origines: Une odyssée ancestrale”, these experiences and these presentations, Victorien Bazo continues to shape a unique voice in contemporary African art, nourished by an unceasing dialogue between tradition and modernity, and opening up new avenues towards understanding oneself and others.