1. Exhibition view - Barthélémy Toguo © Irwin Leullier
Barthélémy Toguo, bridging cultures and globale issues thought art
In an increasingly interconnected world, artists like Barthélémy Toguo offer a powerful lens through which we can explore the complexities of identity, migration, social justice, and ecological sustainability.
Toguo, a visionary artist from Cameroon, uses his multifaceted practice to address pressing global issues while celebrating the rich cultural heritage of his homeland. His works transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, blending African traditions with contemporary artistic expressions.
Toguo’s practice raises essential questions: How can art transcend its traditional role as an aesthetic object and become a tool for activism? How do we reconcile the past with the present, particularly when addressing the legacies of colonialism and the exploitation of natural resources? These questions are crucial in understanding the power of Toguo’s art to shape conversations around identity, history, and the future.
2. Exhibition view - Barthélémy Toguo © Irwin Leullier
"Ceci est le dessin de mes rêves"
The exhibition "Ceci est le dessin de mes rêves" at FRAC Picardie (October 18, 2024 – February 15, 2025) presents a captivating overview of Barthélémy Toguo’s artistic journey, blending his early academic training with his more recent, highly personal expressions.
Curated by Androula Michael, the show explores Toguo’s unique ability to merge African traditions with contemporary global concerns. The exhibition features over thirty drawings from his "Das Bett" series (1995), alongside monumental works like *Les Pleureuses" (2024), a 10-meter ink drawing created specifically for the occasion.
Through these works, Toguo invites viewers into a world where the boundaries between humans, animals, and plants dissolve, creating a rich visual dialogue about transformation, interconnectedness, and collective action. The show emphasizes the fluidity of his practice, showcasing his mastery across various mediums such as ink, wood sculptures, and performance.
"Ceci est le dessin de mes rêves" is not only an artistic showcase but also a call to engage with themes of migration, social justice, and environmental responsibility. Toguo’s multifaceted approach invites the audience to connect deeply with the pressing issues of our time through the lens of his compelling, visionary art.
A multifaceted approach to media and methods
What sets Toguo apart from many contemporary artists is his ability to work across an impressive array of media. His portfolio includes ink drawings, sculptures in wood, ceramics, photography, and performance art. Toguo’s practice is inherently interdisciplinary, and he is not bound by the limitations of any one medium.
The choice of medium in Toguo’s work often arises out of the subject matter itself, with each medium offering a unique way to express complex ideas. For example, his large ink drawings often evoke fluidity and spontaneity, while his sculptures in wood or ceramic reflect a more deliberate, grounded approach.
While Toguo’s formal training gave him a foundation in academic techniques, his subsequent years spent traveling and working around the world allowed him to integrate a variety of cultural influences into his art. Whether working in India with traditional artisans or engaging with communities in Africa, Toguo’s art continually evolves, informed by his ongoing engagement with the global and local realities around him.
Toguo's artistic evolution
Born in 1967 in Mbalmayo, Cameroon, Barthélémy Toguo’s journey as an artist spans continents, from Africa to Europe and beyond. His education took him from the École des Beaux-Arts in Abidjan to the prestigious Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf, Germany. During these years, Toguo was exposed to diverse artistic traditions, but his work was always grounded in his African identity.
His artistic journey was marked by a desire to merge African traditions with contemporary artistic practices, and this is most clearly seen in the creation of Bandjoun Station in 2013, an art center in Cameroon. Bandjoun Station became a place where Toguo could invite artists from around the world to collaborate with local communities, fostering cross-cultural dialogue without hierarchical distinctions between global and African art forms.
Toguo’s early years were shaped by formal training in classical art, including an intense focus on drawing and sculpture. However, over time, his work became deeply personal, with the artist developing a visual language that blends surreal and hybrid forms. His figures, half-human, half-animal, or human and vegetal offer a glimpse into the interconnectedness of nature, human experience, and the world beyond. His work emphasizes transformation and the fluidity between different realms of existence.
Les pleureuses, a monumental statement of grief and hope
3. Exhibition view - Barthélémy Toguo © Irwin Leullier
One of the most striking works in "Ceci est le dessin de mes rêves" is the monumental drawing "Les Pleureuses" (2024), created specifically for the exhibition. Spanning an impressive 10 meters in length, this work draws upon the ancient Egyptian funerary art tradition of the “mourners” but Toguo transforms this iconography into a broader commentary on human suffering and hope for renewal.
The figures in "Les Pleureuses", men and women intertwined with golden vegetal elements are both somber and majestic, their mourning becoming an act of resistance against injustice and inequality.
In this powerful drawing, Toguo blends traditional funerary practices with a deep reflection on contemporary issues such as migration, social injustice, and environmental degradation. The golden highlights emphasize the sacredness of the moment, while the organic forms of the figures reflect the interconnectedness of life and death, humans and nature. The piece evokes mourning as both a collective and personal experience, reminding viewers of the importance of solidarity in the face of adversity.
Informations about the exhibition
Place: Frac Picardie
Date: 18.10.2024 - 15.02.2025
Curators: Androula Michael
Ticket: Free entrance
Informations about the Frac Picardie
45 rue Pointin
80 000 Amiens
Phone: +33 22 91 66 00 45
Email : contact@frac-picardie.org