Artworks

My residency with Galerie Farah Fakhri was certainly a getaway from my everyday life, and allowed me to create works inspired by and reflecting my temporary environs. It was a necessary move outside of my comfort zone within the context of an unfamiliar culture and people who does not speak the same language, hence giving me an opportunity to grow new ears and sharpen the eyes. With my experience creating in Abidjan during my residency, I was as able to develop working with different materials, which became full blown into my practice after the programme. The calmness of the Abidjan city is one interesting part to mention and how it’s people were accommodating and ready to help regardless of language barrier. It made my creative sojourn an uncomplicated one. Note to mention, my host was generous enough to help facilitate series of sight seeings within and outside Abidjan to learn about my host community’s culture and also fun time. Also, the period was an opportunity to meet with other creatives and professionals in the art industry", said Tosin Kalejaye during his residency in Abidjan in 2023