ellipse prize

In 2022, the ellipse prize was reconducted and dedicated to a new territory – The Ivory Coast.
Opened to African visual artists living in the country and aged between 18 to 40, this second edition received more than sixty applications, demonstrating how effervescent the artistic scene is, and how creativity is in a perpetual motion. The five finalists are the perfect witnesses.

The theme of this year was “Nomadic Identity”. A subject that illustrates the dynamism of the big Ivoirian cities, but also the dichotomous interrogations between tradition and modernity. These issues generate paradoxical and endless movements, that concern individuality as much as the community. This theme also aims to question the definition of “Identity”, a word that can mix similarities and dissonances.

As in 2021, the fund committed to facilitate the winner’s access to international networks by providing professional and media support, but also by allowing him to benefit from an exhibition in France. To designate the winner, a jury, made up of professionals, between Ivory Coast and France, met twice.

• Auguste Errol Mimi – art critic (AICA) and curator
• Victoria Mann – director-founder of the AKAA fair
• Gazelle Guirandou – co-founder of the Louisimone Guirandou Gallery
• Bénédicte Alliot – executive director of the Cité internationale des arts
• Jems Koko Bi – sculptor artist and performer
• Isabelle Zongo – founder of Original Foundation

Assoukrou Aké, for his « art de la traduction » and his work as a « médecin-chercheur », has been elected as the winner.

As part of the ellipse prize endowment, Assoukrou Aké benefited from an exhibition at the international fair AKAA – Also Known As Africa at the Carreau du Temple in Paris. From October 21 to 23, 2022, the artist had the opportunity to perform his first solo show with us and to confront his works and his “counter-image” technique to the general public.

This year was also marked by our support and participation to the edition of “Quantity of Movement.s”, the AKAA 2022 Art Book. Co-published by AKAA and Présence africaine, the book, under the direction of Armelle Dakouo, introduces a selection of artists present at the seventh edition of the fair, but also the artists, winner and finalists, of the ellipse prize 2022.

The finalists were also the subject of an interview’s serie “Focus finalists” where each one of them had the time to enlighten us about their inspirations, objectives and artistic practice in general.

_Back in pictures on this second edition, rich of meetings and discoveries

© Théo Pitout / Observascope agency