Originally from Mali and an international professional, Kadija Sangho is a passionate collector of African artefacts, with a collection that grows with every journey and discovery she makes. From Cameroon to Morocco, where she currently lives, Kadija has agreed to share a glimpse of her journey as a collector, as well as some of the trends currently popular in the collecting world.
1 – What was your first encounter with the art world?
I’ve been involved with the art world from a very young age through trips to museums and visits to exhibitions.
However, I’ve been engaging with the art world more regularly since 2016, when I moved to Africa. If I had to pick a specific date, I’d say December 2016, at Joël Mpah Dooh’s exhibition opening to mark the 21st anniversary of the MAM gallery in Douala.
2 – Why do you collect contemporary art?
My decision to collect contemporary art stems from several factors. From a ‘visual art’ perspective, I am very drawn to the freedom of form and colour, and the boldness of the messages conveyed through contemporary art.
In terms of values, I’m part of a movement of young collectors who are drawn to ‘living artists’. I believe that artists should be able to make a living and enjoy the fruits of their art whilst they are still alive. This notion is all the more important to me in the African contemporary art market, where the current state of our societies does not sufficiently value artistic creation.
Finally, there is a budgetary aspect that can be factored into this whole equation, insofar as classical and modern artworks by major, highly-valued artists are often beyond the means of young collectors.
3 – How did you build your collection?
I have built up my collection over the years, through discoveries at exhibition openings, art fairs and also online. I’ve also taken a lot of advice from more experienced collectors and even some artists themselves, who’ve helped me include young artists fresh out of art school in my selection. I’m thinking in particular of the young Diakaridia Traoré, whom I discovered thanks to Amadou Sanogo.
4 - Do you collect exclusively contemporary African art?
I started collecting whilst I was on the continent. My collection is therefore very Africa-focused and consists mainly of African artists based on the continent or in France. I do, however, keep a close eye on emerging trends in Latin America.
5 – How many works do you own?
My collection currently comprises 27 works of art, including two photographs and one sculpture.
6 - What was your first purchase?
I made my very first purchase at the first edition of the ‘Douala Art Fair’ in 2018. It was a magnificent painting by Marc Padeu.
7 – What first draws you to a work of art? Pleasure? Emotion?
My initial attraction to a work comes from the message I can glean from it, even before the artist’s own interpretation is offered to me later on. I derive a great deal of pleasure from this process. Then, as my focus is on young artists, I add a few selection criteria, which may relate to technique, the artist’s art school, or their affiliation with a gallery or collective, so that I can follow their development and artistic approach over time. As a result (and unfortunately), I have very few self-taught artists in my collection – just two who have really moved me.
Finally, the connection and rapport I have with the artist are factors that can be important in my approach. Some have even become my friends.
8 – How do you discover your artists? Online? In galleries? Have you ever bought artworks online?
I actively search online on sites such as Artsy, Artsper and specialist publications, as well as on Instagram – which is a channel widely used by young artists – and platforms such as Kelen.
When I discover new markets, I get in touch with galleries to find out more about what’s on offer. This is currently the case in Morocco, where I live. I try to gain a better understanding of the art available on the market.
When I travel, I regularly meet artists in their working environments, in studios or collectives such as the Badialan studio in Bamako, which is a real hotbed for young talent.
I frequently buy or reserve artworks remotely; it’s very well suited to our lives in 2021.
9 - How often do you buy art?
I don’t have any specific rules on this. It all depends on the circumstances and what’s on offer. I can say, however, that I’ve bought art every year since 2016, except in 2020 due to the instability caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
10 - Do you consider the concept of price to be important?
Artistic creation is so subjective that the concept of price can be unsettling for both artists and buyers.
Nevertheless, as a young, novice collector, price is very important to me: my budget is limited. I set myself certain criteria and limits, without, however, entering into a negotiation that might seem disrespectful to the artist’s work.
