Pascale Marthine Tayou

Galleria Continua, Paris

Paris, Bonhams, Art Moderne & Contemporain Africain, 19 May 2022, lot 25, Collection of Gervanne + Matthias Leridon

Acquired from the above sale by the present owner

Pascale Marthine Tayou combines multi-coloured chalk in a carefully orchestrated pattern that blurs the line between drawing and sculpture whilst inviting viewers to contemplate themes of identity, culture, and human connection. In these complex productions, Tayou transforms a seemingly humble material into a multi-layered and thematically dense oeuvre that transcends the limitations of chalk as a material.

Tayou’s oeuvre centres around his deeply held belief that art and life are inextricably linked. He actively recycles and reuses objects from his life transforming his works into self-referential meditations on the artistic process. His work also seeks to reconcile his cultural origins in West Africa with the European culture of his adopted home in Belgium, manifesting itself in an exploration of personal cultural identity in an increasingly globalised world.

Born in Cameroon in 1966, Pascale Marthine Tayou splits his time between Cameroon and Belgium. Educated as a lawyer, this self-taught artist rose to international recognition in 1996, just two years after debuting in Yaoundé in 1994. Among his numerous accomplishments, Tayou has exhibited in some of the world's most renowned galleries and museums, including the Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Venice Biennale. His impressive roster of exhibitions includes solo shows at prestigious institutions like the Serpentine Galleries in London and the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles.