Aristide Kouame

KOUAME Koffi Aristide was born on June 17, 1995 in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), graduated from D.E.S.A. (Diploma of Higher Artistic Study) and of the Master 2 in painting from the National School of Fine Arts in Abidjan where he entered after high school. He lives and works in Abidjan.

In the painting workshop of the Abidjan Fine Arts, he learns and is inspired by his masters, such as Pascal KONAN for example. In his creation, he also finds inspiration in El Anatsui, Jaume Plensa, Yéanzi, or Mbongeni Buthelezi.

His work essentially questions man and his environment. The characteristic element of his practice is the flip-flop. This recycling of flip-flops comes simply from the fact that in Africa, and more precisely in Ivory Coast, it is customary to reuse objects of like cans, plastic bags, tins and many others. It is also a way for Aristide to play intelligently with the link between what is considered "useless" or even beautiful and the art of "Recycling", giving waste a second life, shaping it to a second life, by shaping them to create portraits.