For the last quarter of 2024, the LouiSimonne Guirandou gallery is preparing to enchant its public with an original exhibition that promises to leave an indelible mark. In collaboration with Ethiopian artist Aïda Muluneh, the art center unveils “This is where I am” until November 09, a solo show that dances to the rhythm of vibrant photography and warm colors.
Between March and May 2023, the photographer’s creative soul was expressed through a new series of twelve photographs, presented as part of a commission by the non-profit organization, Public Art Fund. These visual works adorned 330 bus shelters in major metropolises such as Abidjan, Boston, Chicago and New York, forging a bold link between Ivory Coast and the United States.
After this journey between continents and a successful encounter with an international audience, the entire series has finally found a home in the artistic space of the LouiSimonne Guirandou gallery. The exhibition in Abidjan allows local art lovers to rediscover these photographs in an intimate setting, inviting them to take a fresh look at their daily lives. Aïda Muluneh encourages her audience to take a close look at their surroundings, revealing details that are often invisible in daily routine. This artistic approach underlines the importance of observation and reflection, while highlighting the visual and cultural richness of her art.
The “This is where I am” exhibition represents a singular opportunity to explore the creative universe of Aïda Muluneh, an established artist who brilliantly redefines the contours of contemporary photography. By transforming every passing place into an immersive exhibition space, she transcends the usual boundaries, turning everyday life into fertile ground for art. Far from limiting herself to a simple advertising space, the Ethiopian artist revolutionizes our perception of places and rethinks the representation of her continent, while engaging in a profound reflection on our relationship with the image.
A graduate of Howard University in Washington, where she specialized in communications and film, Aïda Muluneh’s work has found its way into numerous prestigious exhibitions and events across the globe. Her photographs are included in the permanent collections of renowned institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, the Hood Museum, the RISD Museum of Art, and the Museum of Biblical Art in the United States.
Awarded several prizes for her photographic art, she also made her mark by becoming the first black woman to co-curate the Nobel Peace Prize exhibition, before returning the following year as the commissioned artist for this emblematic event.
The excitement surrounding Aïda Muluneh’s artistic practice is rooted in her deeply committed approach to raising awareness and defending environmental and health issues. Now internationally recognized as a leading figure in women’s photography, she uses her creativity to redefine perceptions and narratives linked to the African continent.
The exhibition “This is where I am” is inspired by the eponymous poem “ C’est ici que je suis ‘ (’This is where I am”) by Ethiopian poet Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin. In this artistic presentation, African female figures are revealed in poses that are both majestic and intriguing, their curious gazes oscillating between neutrality and intensity, sometimes even disturbing. The motifs and details present in Aïda Muluneh’s photographs are deeply inspired by Ethiopia’s rich culture, paying homage to its roots while placing them at the heart of contemporary discourse.
A striking recurring element in this series of works is the motif of the eye. A true symbol of these creations, the eye becomes a revealing window onto the way each individual chooses to react to his or her environment: whether feigning ignorance by looking away, or courageously confronting the history unfolding before them.
The exhibition’s curator, Katrina Stathopoulou, says: “Against meticulously hand-painted backgrounds, his works allegorically illustrate stories of challenges overcome, the search for truth and the resilience of a nation. The photographs reference different eras of art history and several cultural influences, including surrealism, Renaissance painting, West African studio portrait photography, Ethiopian church murals, as well as African body ornamentation… At once imbued with hope and inviting open discourse, the exhibition ”This is where I am” is Aïda Muluneh’s tribute to Ethiopia.””
In this way, “This is where I am” is not just an exhibition; it is an invitation to collective introspection, an exploration of how we look at ourselves and the world around us. Through her art, Aïda Muluneh encourages us to question our relationship with reality, and to consider bold new perspectives on Africa and its multiple narratives.