Season 2 of Rezidan is in full swing and La Kocotte Artistique has become a vibrant space of interaction and creation for participating artists as they prepare for this year’s exhibition in Telfair. Here is an interview with the programme’s curator and Director of Imaaya Art Gallery, Charlie d’Hotman and three artists from this year’s cohort.
This experimental artist’s versatility stems from his studies. While his training in visual arts explored various media, including painting and installation, he will focus on painting for the residency.
“I wanted to take the time to return to my foundation, especially after working on installations during my studies, and I am eager to play with shapes, depth and colour. The works of de Chirico and Magritte have always fascinated me and this residency is an opportunity to find my own approach to these elements and explore the symbolism of colours and shapes for the human psyche.”
This artist works with various media, including canvas and rugs, with a particular fondness for the latter. She discovered this medium on YouTube during the lockdown period and it was “love at first scroll.”
“From the outset, Moka Smart City’s Art & Culture Manager, Mathieu Pigeot and Charlie told us this was the perfect opportunity to explore new approaches. I knew rugs would be part of the experiment but I wasn’t sure how exactly. Charlie encouraged me to consider the symbolism of rugs for others and what I want my art to represent. So this residency is an opportunity for me to bring more life and interactivity into my art.”
A self-taught artist, Kris draws inspiration from his family’s African statuettes and fetishes. Driven by artistic curiosity, he has undertaken research on African primitive art and culture to establish the basis for his style. “This experience has allowed me to delve deeper into my exploration and experiment further with materials and techniques,” he says.
“At this stage, the possibilities seem endless, with each study producing a different result. I place special emphasis on feedback from my previous works, which highlighted an unexpected oriental flavour, which was not part of my initial inspiration. So I intend to explore the possible link between African and Oriental cultures to allow a unique style to emerge.”
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