Meet a curious young Malian artist who is passionate about art and loves to reinvent himself! He brilliantly combines painting with scraps of fabric, which he works on with great attention to detail. His latest series immerses us in various shades of blue, within which we can make out moving silhouettes....
1- Could you briefly tell us about your background?
I am one of the founders of the Tim’Art collective, through which we organise workshops and solo and group exhibitions, with the main aim of helping to make the visual arts more accessible within Malian society.
2- How did your artistic vocation come about?
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve always been passionate about art. When I was younger, I used to visit museums and art spaces regularly, and that made me want to one day be among the exhibitors in those very same art galleries – but this time on the artists’ side. What’s more, I was one of the best in my class at drawing, and I never stopped believing in myself…
So it was only natural that I embraced a career as a painter and, as I gained experience, I was able to make my mark by bringing a different touch to the work I used to love admiring when I was still just an ‘aspiring painter’.
3- Tell us about your working techniques?
I work mainly with acrylics. I begin my canvases by applying acrylic across the entire surface of the canvas intended for the artwork. After the preparatory phase, it’s time to create the painting. At this stage, I select a few sketches to transfer onto the canvas. I also sometimes create works directly without going through the sketching stage. As for applying the paint, I naturally start with the background, then layer on the elements that are closer to the viewer, and so on. Following my extensive experience and training, I now use a new mixed-media technique involving cutting up fabric (jeans) and collaging it onto canvas. This approach has enabled me to achieve many innovations.
4- What inspires you?
I draw a great deal of inspiration from nature and everyday life in my country, but also from everything happening around the world. I observe society and, through my works, I denounce the harmful acts that hold us back in life. I hope that my canvases will speak to people, move them, unsettle them or soothe them when they are exhibited to the public. I hope that the public will not remain indifferent to what is presented to them, but rather that they will connect with the artwork at the most accessible level possible.