Aboudia

Jack Bell Gallery, London

Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2013

The present lot is a wonderful example of the artistic techniques which quickly distinguished Aboudia as a leading contemporary artist. Its title simultaneously referencing a child-like sense of play whilst reminding the viewer of the echoes of conflict which conceptually undergird this work. The composition itself is an explosion of colour and form. Shifting from abstraction to representationalism, from street graffiti to history painting, Boom I possesses a dynamism which few works are able to impart upon the viewer. 

Aboudia is one of the most exciting contemporary artists to emerge from West Africa in recent years. Born in Abidjan in 1983, Aboudia’s style is heavily influenced by the urban environment. Aboudia developed his signature style amidst the violence and chaos of civil conflict which ensued in his home country Ivory Coast following contentious presidential elections in 2011. The ‘subjects’ and ‘figures’ depicted in his works at times bear resemblance to soldiers, children and animals, emphasising the role of conflict in the disorientation of communities and society. 

"My inspiration comes from the streets and from the fact that children are writing their stories on the walls. People at one point called me a painter of war. But I am not a painter of war; I was just painting at a time when there was a war. Since my time at L’École des Beaux-Arts, I’ve focused my attention on children. Voilà – children of the street and graffiti. I see young girls who want to become doctors drawing girls in Red Cross uniforms driving ambulances; I see young boys who want to become drivers drawing cars. These children are my true inspiration."

Aboudia, Transforming The World Through Color: An Interview with Aboudia, Sotheby's, Online, Jul 14, 2021