Stop Ma Pa Ta (Ma matière première n’est pas ta matière)

The collaboration between the Villa Arson (France) and the Arts and Culture Lobozounkpa in Cotonou has led to an exhibition featuring 14 artists from Benin.

The exhibition highlights the emergence of an artistic production revealing not only their roots and their culture but also their strong desire to question the present time and the closest political and anthropological events. The majority of artists featured in the exhibition live in their country and have been developing art forms influenced both by traditional and by contemporary techniques, adapting all the while to economic constraints and retaining a sharp awareness of the materials that they use.

The resulting works are generous, as is the artistic scene in this newly emancipating country.

Featuring works by: Richard Korblah, Edwige Aplogan, Aston, Benjamin Déguénon, Daavo, Kifouli Dossou, Euloge Glèlè, Prince Toffa, Charles Placide, Psycoffi, Gérard Quenum, Julien Vignikin, Didier Viodé and Dominique Zinkpé

Curators: André Jolly and Eric Mangion

Stop Ma Pa Ta (My Raw Material is Not Your Material) is the title of a work by Benjamin Déguénon ironically representing the way in which large western, Russian or Chinese industrial firms are exploiting African mining resources, in utter contempt of the needs of local populations.

The exhibition is produced with the support of the Galerie Vallois (Paris), who is organizing a Paris/Cotonou/Paris season for 2017.