From 2 to 15 November 2020, a dozen artists from the West African sub-region and the West participated in the residency Art Messiamé initiated by Atelier Ati in Togo. On the occasion, various activities including workshops and conferences allowed participants to exchange on various topics related to artistic creation.
Art Messiamé, an artistic bridge between Africa and the West
The Ati workshop is an association of former students of the Beaux-Arts de Paris. Its objective is to meet foreign artists in order to share with them their approach to contemporary art. This ambition was materialized through the project Art Messiamé which took the form of a sub-regional art meeting whose vocation is to establish a bridge between the academic vision of art in the West and the self-taught practice in Africa.
The name “ArtMessiamé” is a play on words combining the word “Art” and “Améssiamé“, which means “Everyone” in Mina, the local language of Togo.
Many enriching activities for the locals
The artist’s residence took place in the premises of the museum dedicated to the famous Togolese artist Paul Ahyi. For two weeks, artists Achille Adonon, Amélie Akogonya, Atisso Goha, Clément Ayikoué Gbegno, Da Costa Kwami, Kokou Ferdinand Mokouvia, Juliette Delecour, Richard Late Lawson Body, Yasmine Yerima, from Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo had the opportunity to learn more about artistic practices in the West. Together, the participants worked on common works in order to share their know-how and approach to art.
On the fringe of the residency, a writing workshop was organized with students from the University of Lomé for the production of texts presenting the works of the artists, and the edition of a catalog accompanying the exhibition. Several conferences were also held at the Institut Français and Isica, two partners of this first edition. A round table on the theme “Living art in Africa and the world” also brought together participants and guests around the art critic Armelle Malvoisin, accompanied by the artists Eric Wonanu and Kokou Ferdinand Makouvia. The famous collector Marty de Montereau, who came specially to Togo for the event, shared his passion and commitment to contemporary African art at the Paul Ahyi Museum.
Two restitution exhibitions
In order to share with the public, the creations and conclusions resulting from the Art Messiamé artists’ residency, a restitution exhibition is open from November 12, 2020 to January 31, 2021, in the premises of the Paul Ahyi Museum. A second exhibition, the dates of which will be known soon, will also take place in Paris with the same works.
