Dolls Never Die

Dolls Never Die was an exhibition last year at the October Gallery by Benin artist Gerard Quenum. The exhibition consisted of a series of sculptures made from recycled materials and dolls.

Out of Focus

Out of Focus was a photography exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery featuring work by artists from around the world.

Untitled Vodou series by Leonce Raphael Agbodjélou from Benin, who has had work displayed at the Jack Bell Gallery

 Untitled by South African artist Mohau Modisakeng

The Saatchi Gallry also recently hosted work by finalists from the Google Photography Prize.

 Quiet Departure by Zhao Yi from China

Colour of Nights by Dana Stirling from Israel

 Another Israeli entry - Adi Sason

Balázs Máté from Hungary with Unmade

Kyrre Lien from Norway took this photo of a Chess tournament in Oslo

Cargoland

In Benin petrol trafficking from nearby Nigeria is a dangerous business. Romauld Hazoumè's exhibition in the October Gallery explore the issues of exploitation of petrol and water in Benin through photographs, masks made from petrol canisters and customised cargo carrying tricycles.

Masters of Transvangarde

Transvangarde is a type of post avant garde art.  And your guess is as good as mine as to what that actually means.

I wonder if there is a link between the October Gallery and the British Museum as I have seen three artists (El Anatsui, Owusu-Ankomah and Rachid Koraichi) exhibiting in both places.

In this exhibition there was work by the following artists:

El Anatsui, Ghana
Ninenna Okore, Nigeria
Owusu-Ankomah, Ghana
Willian S Burroughs, USA
Brion Gysin, England
Gerald Wilde, England
Kenji Yoshida, Japan
Rachid Koraichi, Algeria
Golnaz Fathi, Iran
Govinda Singh, Nepal
Lala Shawa, Palestine
Julien Sinzogan, Benin
Aubrey Willians, Guyana

Les Fantomes

The Jack Bell Gallery has moved from its spot in Victoria to Mason's Yard - a stone's throw from Fortnum and Mason, though I'm sure the residents of SW1Y would have plenty to say if you were to actually throw a stone.

I had the chance to chat with the eponymous Jack Bell about the exhibit 'Les Fantomes' which will be showing until 29th October 11.  

The most impressive piece for me was the car coffin by Paa Joe of Ghana.  A relatively modern tradition, coffins have been created to reflect what a person did in their life, for example a speedboat motor for a fisherman or a fancy car for a business man.

You can see more examples of these amazing coffins from one of the older exhibtions from the Jack Bell Gallery here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11879532

Model of a coffin by Paa Joe

Another painting by Aboudia from the Ivory Coast (I saw some of his paintings on my last visit to the Jack Bell Gallery)

Photo by Hamidou Maiga from Mali

Les Fantomes also features work by Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou from Benin, Bandoma from Democratic Republic of Congo and Afedzi Hughes from Ghana.

Les Femmes Peul

Les Femmes Peul by artist Gérard Quenum from Benin

Voodoo Altar for Mamma Wata

Mamma Wata is also know as Yemaya Mother Goddess of the Ocean.

I have taken the following description of Mamma Wata from this website: www.thaliatook.com/AMGG/yemaya.html

"She is the source of all the waters, including the rivers of Western Africa, especially the River Ogun. Her name is a contraction of Yey Omo Eja, which means "Mother Whose Children are the Fish". As all life is thought to have begun in the Sea, all life is held to have begun with Yemaya. She is motherly and strongly protective, and cares deeply for all Her children, comforting them and cleansing them of sorrow. She is said to be able to cure infertility in women, and cowrie shells represent Her wealth. She does not easily lose Her temper, but when angered She can be quite destructive and violent, as the Sea in a storm." 

Yoruba Gelede Mask

According to the British Museum the aim of Gelede is to appease 'the mothers' who control fertility, life and the death of children.  This particular Gelede mask is from Benin