After Senegal, Ivory Coast and Togo, the ellipse Prize returns for its fourth edition under the theme: “Contemporary Tradition“, with the aim of exploring the talents of Benin’s flourishing art scene. From March 18 to May 10, 2024, Beninese artists wishing to participate in this unprecedented artistic experience are invited to take part in the ellipse Prize 2024.
Artistic partnerships, art fairs, traveling exhibitions, competitions – a host of artistic events and organizations are set up to promote contemporary African art. The ellipse Prize travelling competition is one of these unmissable visual arts programs, showcasing the creativity of a country’s artists every year.
With a view to promoting intercultural exchanges and the mobility of contemporary players, the ellipse Prize is committed to propelling the artistic career of the winner by offering a production grant and an exhibition in France at the prestigious AKAA – ALSO KNOWN AS AFRICA international art fair. The winner also benefits from a media campaign and professional support tailored to enrich his or her artistic practice and establish a place on the global art scene.
Ras Sankara, Togolese artist and winner of the ellipse 2023 Prize, charmed the juries with his exceptional performances and the depth of his creations. Like previous winners such as Ibrahima Ndome and Assoukrou Aké, the Togolese artist is now seeing his visibility grow, opening up new prospects for his already flourishing artistic career.
For the 2024 edition, the ellipse Prize has chosen to spotlight Benin’s emerging art scene. Spotted for its participation in the Venice Biennale 2024, the opening up of new artistic spaces and its rich cultural diversity, Benin appears to be a breeding ground for contemporary talent with great potential, yet little known.
This art competition represents an exclusive opportunity for young Beninese artists to explore the immersive and exhilarating world of the global art scene. With a program as enriching and meticulously organized as ever, this fourth edition promises a captivating journey to the heart of contemporary Beninese art, under the theme of “Contemporary Tradition“.
Focus on the competition theme
The “Contemporary Tradition” theme highlights Benin’s cultural and traditional heritages and contemporary artistic expressions. This theme aims to explore the way in which Beninese artists appropriate, reinterpret and transform ancestral traditions to set them in a modern, contemporary context.
By combining the richness of Benin‘s cultural heritage with the creativity and innovation of its artists, the “Contemporary Tradition” theme offers a unique perspective on the evolution of art in Benin. It encourages artists to draw on their country’s cultural roots to create original works that reflect both the heritage of the past and the challenges of contemporary society.
The theme invites reflection on how local traditions can be presented in isolation from the issues and dynamics of modern society. It encourages artists to explore new forms of artistic expression, while remaining rooted in the values and cultural practices that have shaped Benin’s identity.
By highlighting “Contemporary Tradition” as the central theme of the ellipse Prize 2024, the event celebrates Benin’s cultural diversity and highlights the creativity of local artists who seek to renew and revitalize the country’s artistic traditions in an ever-changing global context.
Contemporary Beninese art stands at the crossroads between the preservation of ancestral customs, the reinvention of traditional values and the creation of a totally new art form. Artists are invited to express their position in relation to this artistic dynamic with relevance and originality.
Through their preferred media, they have the opportunity to share their unique vision of how they integrate, transform or transcend Benin’s cultural traditions in their work. It is through this artistic exploration that the diversity and richness of contemporary Beninese art is revealed, between heritage and innovation, continuity and renewal.
Ellipse prize 2024 agenda
- Call for entries from March 18 to May 10, 2024
- Finalists announced mid-May 2024
- Winner announced June 2024
- Exhibition in Paris at AKAA from October 18 to 20, 2024
Beninese artists, whether resident in Benin or in different parts of the continent, are all invited to take part in this new ellipse 2024 Prize competition. In partnership with AKAA (Also Known As Africa) in Paris, the Laboratoire Arts Contemporains in Cotonou, the French Institute of Bénin in Cotonou and the Hotel Red House in Cotonou, the ellipse art projects promises an edition even more enriching and captivating than previous ones.
The ellipse 2024 Prize jury will be made up of eminent experts and professionals from the art scene, including Armelle Dakouo, Artistic Director of AKAA and independent curator, Dominique Zinkpè, Beninese visual artist and President of the Center in Abomey-Calavi, Céline Coyac Atindehou, Director of Hotel Red House, and Lylly Houngnihin, Executive Director of Laboratoire Arts Contemporains. We encourage Beninese artists to let themselves be carried away by this artistic adventure, by submitting their applications for this edition, which will be held under the theme of Contemporary Tradition.
Application form
The application file consists of the :
- Administrative part :
- cv ;
- biography ;
- proof of residence (a document such as an invoice showing the candidate’s first and last names);
- photocopy of both sides of valid identity card or passport.
- Artistic section :
- A portfolio presenting a minimum of 5 works, each with: high-definition visuals, a data sheet including title, date of creation, dimensions and technique, and a few lines of explanation;
- An exhibition project inspired by the “Contemporary Tradition” theme: a general explanation of the project a provisional list of the works envisaged, whether already produced (never exhibited before) or to be produced, with a visual description of each and their approximate/estimated dimensions.
Don’t hesitate to seize this unique opportunity to showcase your talent and creativity in the prestigious setting of the ellipse 2024 Prize.
N.B: The various documents making up the application file are compulsory and must be submitted on the ellipse art projects website in the dedicated spaces on the entry form before the deadline, 10.05.2024.
