Rabat – From October 3 to November 4, 2023, Cameroonian artist Hako Hankson is making his Casablanca gallery debut with the striking exhibition “Silent Lives” at L’Atelier 21 Art Gallery.
A testament to the power of cultural fusion, Hankson’s “Silent Lives” is a remarkable outcome of the artist’s three-month residency in Casablanca. The Moroccan city’s vibrant energy deeply influenced the artist, creating a captivating blend of his Cameroonian heritage and the Moroccan culture.
Gaston Hako, known as Hako Hankson, was born in 1968 in Bafang, Cameroon. He made his debut in the art world in the 1990s, and his works have been exhibited across the globe.
The artist grew up immersed in the rich traditions of West Cameroon and his tribal rituals. Guided by his sculptor father, he ignited his creative spark through exquisite ritual objects, including masks and statuettes.
In the pages of the exhibition catalog, writer Olivier Rachet illuminates the artist’s work with the following words: “There is no concern here with beauty or with responding to the injunctions of contemporary art, which excessively aestheticizes the black body or idealizes sacred objects disconnected from their ritual function.”
Hankon’s canvas titled The Confidence, using the mixture technique.
Rachet highlights the presence of opposing artistic influences in the Cameroonian artist’s work, where portraiture seamlessly blends with a graphic style reminiscent of free figuration or even comic strips.
Hanko Hankson’s canvas, he writes, “conjures up a profusion of details with total freedom of composition: figures drawn in felt-tip evoke soldiers, street musicians, and street vendors encountered by the artist during his residency in Casablanca.”
Forgotten Souls ( les ames oublieés) by Hako Hankson
“It’s almost as if we’re witnessing the marriage of the sacred and the profane, as in the works of Michel Macréau and Basquiat, for whom Hako Hankson has boundless admiration.”
Rachet concludes: “Just as Basquiat, who is of Haitian descent, is able to conjure up in his painting both the codes of street art and references to voodoo culture, Hako Hankson makes a salutary junction between his Bamiléké culture and the best of art history.”
Hankson’s Contemplations and Contradiction
Hako Hankson’s exhibition is a testament to L’ Atelier 21’s dedication to embracing artists from the African continent. At the same time, this commitment is a cornerstone in the promotion of Moroccan visual artists.
Experience the magic at the L’Atelier 21 Art Gallery from October 3 to November 4, 2023. Witness the unseen voices brought to life in this captivating journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a mesmerizing exploration of cultural synergy and artistic brilliance.
