Three new art exhibitions have opened at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, featuring the works of renowned contemporary Cameoonian artist Pascale Marthine Tayou and 49 UAE-based artists. The exhibitions explore themes such as consumerism, dreams of the future, and satirical cartoons. The shows are curated by members of the Culture Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
Lobi Lobi by Pascale Marthine Tayou
The main exhibition, ‘Lobi Lobi,’ is named after a poem by Tayou and showcases Cameoonian artist’s works through sculptures, installations, poetry, and photography. The exhibition highlights the paradoxes of consumer and material culture.
The exhibition is divided into four sections: ‘Margin to the Centre,’ ‘Power Vessels,’ ‘Fantasia Urbaine,’ and ‘Playing Field.’ Margin to the Centre’ explores Tayou’s artistic process to reconfigure everyday objects into testaments of our environmental damage and global histories. ‘Power Vessels’ showcases the artist’s contemporary crystal sculptures, which reinterpret west-central African sculptural figures. ‘Fantasia Urbaine’ “Fantasy Urbaine” featues a video installation of a parade that the artist organized in 2007 in honor of Cameroon’s street vendors. ‘Playing Field’ highlights a collection of chalk paintings inspired by traditional West African prints, symbolizing the fragility of knowledge as they reveal the colonial history of education in Cameroon.
Bobo Land by Pascale Marthine Tayou
A separate exhibition by Tayou, ‘Bobo Land,’ presents artists’ works for young children through interactive exhibits and activities. Young visitors and their families can explore the exhibition through the eyes of Bobo, a child character who dreams, explores, and innovates for his future.
Comic Craze Vol. 3
The third exhibition, ‘Comic Craze Vol. 3,’ celebrates the history of Arabic comics and Japanese anime, featuring the creations of 49 UAE-based artists. Visitors can explore creative illustration and animation ranging from historical comic magazines to popular Japanese anime productions that were dubbed into Arabic in the 1980s. The exhibition sheds light on the evolution in style and content of Arabic comics and satirical cartoons from the 1800s to the present day. Interactive elements such as screens broadcasting nostalgic cartoon theme songs, character figurines, and a photo booth equipped with comic props are also included in the exhibition.
Visitors can participate in a public program of workshops and events related to the exhibitions, and a public artist talk with Pascale Marthine Tayou.
