Contemporary African art, now more than ever at the forefront of the global art scene, is a vector of all possibilities. A factor of change, rallying and discovery of the continent’s cultures and heritages, it is a creative and aesthetic way through which contemporary African actors share their perspective of the world and the realities of their daily lives. In order to ensure the continuity of this mode of transmission, art education has become essential for teaching the younger generations. The exhibition “Des enfants à l’œuvre!” is a perfect response to this objective: to distill the seeds of artists and inspire children in the practice of contemporary art. Presented until November 09 at the Zinsou Foundation Lab in Cotonou, Benin, works by young students aged 5 to 14 are displayed on the gallery walls, like windows onto the future of tomorrow’s art.
The ZinsouFoundation, renowned for its unstinting commitment to the promotion and appreciation of contemporary African art, has developed a program specially dedicated to welcoming young audiences. The program, which has been in place for 20 years, aims to gently introduce art into children’s educational careers. Through creative workshops, such as Petits Pinceaux, and interactive games, youngsters discover the captivating world of contemporary creation alongside passionate mediators. Today, the Zinsou Foundation is proud to welcome some 600 schools and centers for children under 18 every day, both at its museum in Ouidah and at the Lab in Cotonou, reinforcing its vital role in raising awareness and educating future generations in the arts.
Following this richly rewarding visit, some teams of teachers decided to deepen their experience at the Museum. This is the case at Le Petit Poucet school in Cotonou, which, since its visit to the Museum in February, has devoted one hour a week to artistic experimentation inspired by the works discovered, notably those by Cyprien Tokoudagba, Emo de Medeiros, Pauline Guerrier, Jeremy Demester, Bruno and Brice Zountounnou, and Ishola Akpo. All pupils, from CI to CM2, work together to create original works. Thanks to the commitment of the teachers, who have integrated artistic learning into the school curriculum, this breeding ground for creativity has come to fruition.
The exhibition vernissage took place on July 19 at the Zinsou Lab Foundation, where the work of these young artists, aged 5 to 14, was showcased. For the “Des enfants à l’œuvre!” exhibition, the young creators took on the roles of curators, scenographers, graphic designers, technicians and opening organizers, with the support of the Zinsou Foundation team and their teachers, during a workshop entitled Les Petits Curateurs.
Indeed, after their visit in February, Le Petit Poucet school once again collaborated with Fondation Zinsou to present the results of their in-class art sessions. In view of the students’ innovative initiative and original productions, it was decided to reserve a space in the Fondation’s Cotonou Lab to exhibit the works created by these budding young artists.
This decision has given rise to a new initiative: the “Des enfants à l’œuvre !” exhibition will be entirely organized by the students themselves. From the choice of colors for the exhibition walls, to the placement of the works, the communication aspect of the exhibition and the logistics of the opening, everything has been programmed by these young talents, under the supervision of the Foundation and school teams. As a result, these children were able to explore both the backstage and the front of the art scene, immersing themselves in a highly enriching creative ensemble.
Through this curatorial project, “Des enfants à l’œuvre !”, the Zinsou Foundation aims to build momentum for arts education in schools and drop-in centers across the country. The project also offers an opportunity to stimulate the creativity of younger generations, to involve young audiences in museum institutions and to provide an in-depth insight into an artistic milieu, thus contributing to the emergence of new vocations. Today, more than ever, we are convinced that art plays an essential role in building a better future for generations to come.
As part of the “Des enfants à l’oeuvre!” exhibition, a work from the Zinsou Collection was exhibited as an example of what can be discovered at the Museum. It is an overtenture by Emo de Medeiros. This work can be used to describe examples of themes that can be used in the classroom as a basis for reflection, and the links that can be made with the “Des enfants à l’œuvre !“