Mario Hounkanrin

Born 1978 in Cotonou, Benin and raised in Paris, France. I had good drawing skills and it is an activity that I practiced regularly with the support of those around me. During my studies, I opted for a course combining my two passions: graphic design and IT. Graduated at the end of 2001, I very quickly found a job as a graphic designer on the ELLE magazine website. I worked at the same time for different fashion magazines. In order to evolve in my profession, I resign to start a career as a freelance graphic designer. This is how I started the NOMOON design studio with some school mates. During the 10 years of existence of this studio we have collaborated with large groups and big brands and I specialized in graphic animation. Today, based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, my goal is to devote myself entirely to my first passion which is graphic art and to immerse myself in my African origins. I think that African Arts and Cultures are little represented and often ignored or despised. I want to show the richness of African Art by integrating it into the modernity of my pieces.