Idrissa diarra tropical forest press release

PRESS RELEASE

IDRISSA DIARRA IVORY COAST - PAINTING

SELVA TROPICAL (Tropical Jungle) Exhibition showing from 5/4/14 - 8/6/2014

Galería Out of Africa Carrer Major, 7 - Carrer Nou - 08870 Sitges (Barcelona) – España www.galeria-out-of-africa.com - sorella@galeria-out-of-africa.com - Tel: +34 618 356 351

Selva Tropical Out of Africa gallery of Sitges, Barcelona presents “Selva Tropical” (Tropical Jungle), an exhibition of naïve painting by Ivory Coast artist Idrissa Diarra that will show from the 5th of April to the 8th of June 2014.

Idrissa Diarra – Grand Bassam – Costa de Marfil – Pintura naif

In a career spanning almost thirty years, Idrissa Diarra's work has focused on three main aspects: social matters, be it a poster for artisans or educational panels; cultural traditions from around Ivory Coast; and lush tropical forest landscapes adorned with wild animals and birds.

Diarra's work is remarkable for its intensity, level of detail, abundance of illustration and complexity. From the four corners of Ivory Coast, the artist observes nature while also studying local traditions and customs. Sharing a fascination for the Lobi tribe, during the exhibition, the gallery and the artist will present a collection of ritual Lobi statues of great ethnic value.

Opening reception: Saturday, April 5th 2014 at 7.30pm. The artist will be present and a cocktail will be served.

Conference: Ritual Celebrations of the Lobi People, Wednesday, 10th April 2014 at 11am.

Idrissa Diarra – « Les mangroves » - 2013 - 100cm H x 100cm W – Acrylic on canvas

Born in the sub prefecture of Niellé in northern Ivory Coast, artist Idrissa Diarra (Tomikoro, 1969) did not have the opportunity to learn at school. The French that Diarra writes and speaks was picked up in the school of life, prior to enrolling in the Conservatoire Regional Des Arts et Metiers d'Abengourou.

Created as a means for social reintegration through art, this school arose from the generous imagination of French aid worker Bieth and is undoubtedly Ivory Coast's temple of Naïve art, producing artists of international recognition such as: Augustin Kassy, Zéhirin, Losseni and Idrissa Diarra.

Idrissa Diarra – “Les bambous” – 2013 – 90cm H x 89cm W – Acrylic on canvas

Idrissa Diarra – « Les hypopotames de la Marawe » - 2013 – 100cm H x 112cm W – Acrylic on canvas

Taught by copying all kinds of paintings, with orders coming from Abidjan and also originating in Europe, these artists, following in Losseni's footsteps, made a commitment to represent daily themes that surrounded them in their lives and they progressively gave free reign to their imagination. Following a highly successful exhibition in the Abidjan Sofitel in 1986, the group of artists was encouraged and reaffirmed in their choice of direction.

From that moment, Idrissa Diarra never stopped working. He gained confidence in his technique and his work has become an essential part of his life: day after day he creates images inspired by what he sees and feels, producing canvases with meticulous care, an essential characteristic of his work.

“Naïve art is not necessarily an exotic art for foreign tourists! Above all it is an art that engages the viewer

because of its accessibility. Unlike other forms of art, abstract or even symbolic, the viewer is not confronted with his or her own ignorance, for naïve art does not claim to be smarter than the onlooker who gazes upon it, on occasions in a distracted fashion, on others with intensity.

On the contrary, to understand what should be understood, offers a gentle certainty. It is calming, both for better and for worse. At its worst, stereotypes regarding artistic freedom of proportion and other rules do not allow one to forget where economies are being made. At its best, by way of simplicity and sincerity, the artist renews the themes and script of his dialogue reminding everyone that to see is not so much photographing reality but more a question of imagining it properly. Indeed, Idrissa Diarra does not necessarily show what he sees, but rather what he imagines."

Yacouba Konate - Curator, writer, art critic and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cocody Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Lobi warrior - 1945

Lobi architecture – Lobi ladder enabling access to the terrace

Idrissa Diarra – "Lever de soleil“ – 2013 – 76cm H x 73cm W – Acrylic on canvas

Since 1986, Idrissa Diarra has participated in almost 40 exhibitions in Africa (Ivory Coast, Gabon and Senegal), in Europe (France and Belgium) and notably at the Max Fournier Museum of Naïve Art in Paris as well as in Japan as part of the cultural exchanges between this country and Ivory Coast. Very sensitive to the happiness and well-being of children, Diarra has participated in charity exhibitions to raise funds for the entertainment of sick children in Antwerp (Belgium) and at the events organised by the UN in aid of underprivileged children in Abidjan.

In Abidjan Cocody, the artist is represented by Galerie Arts Pluriels.

2014 will be the year of Diarra's first exhibition in Spain (Barcelona).

The Lobi people Along the western border of Ghana and eastern half of the Ivory Coast border, in one of the poorest regions of the country, several related ethnic groups some of them with a common past - are considered culturally speaking one of the richest communities in the country: the Lobi, Dagara, Gan, Birifor, Pwe and Dan have divided out an extended territory surrounding the cities of Gaoua, Loropéni, Batié, Diébougou and Dissen.

Mainly present in Burkina Faso, the Lobi also have many villages in Ghana and in Ivory Coast.

The Lobi (the name originates from two Lobiri words meaning “Children of the forest”) are farmers, hunters and herders, but above all they are warriors.

In this tribe everything is a reminder that their history has been marked by resistance against raids from neighbouring tribes and slave raids up until the mid 19th century: their houses are small impenetrable fortresses and their bows and poisoned arrows -inseparable from the rural population - are a reminder of their bellicose talent.

Lobi diviner fetiche figurines

Lobi architecture is very special and is revealed to be the most advanced and the most beautiful of Burkina Faso together with Gurunsi Kasséna architecture. Lobi dwellings consist of a large rectangular fortress-like compound named "Soukala". Access is gained through the roof terrace, accessible only by a notched ladder that the family may remove in order to defend themselves from attack.

Lobi statue – Ivory Coast – Wood – Old and crusty patina - Early 20th century

As a result of this style of construction, the terrace can be used to sleep outdoors on the hottest nights prior to wintering, and an interior courtyard protects the domestic animals and serves as a cooking area.

The Lobi have no centralized authority. The only authority is that of the father, although the woman holds a very important position in Lobi society.

Diviners, sorcerers and witch doctors skilfully lead initiation and funeral rites in the dry season. These big celebrations bring together many people, where "Tan" millet beer flows freely. Lobi people practise initiation ceremonies such as the “Djoro” which is still today an unavoidable institution for social integration.

Each settlement has a diviner or fetisher (a priest attached to the service of a fetish or deity), a sorcerer with supernatural powers and a witch doctor.

Lobi people call their ritual figures “bouthiba”, from medicine (thi) that speaks obscure words (bour).

These figurines are considered living, sacred beings with power to communicate. Far from being crude representations, these figures are intermediaries between the earthly world and the afterlife.

Lobi figurines are generally carved in wood. They are predominantly portrayed in a vertical position and have a disproportionally large head in relation to the rest of the body. Mainly crafted with the head facing forward or in profile, they are hieratic and rigid. An Stylization is intended and a visible geometry is revealed. If the gesture is broadly expressive, the body movement interprets intentions, the meanings of which escape the layman.

For more information kindly contact: Sorella Acosta sorella@galeria-out-of-africa.com +34 618 356 351 www.galeria-out-of-africa.com facebook : Galeria Out of Africa