Aboudia

Private Collection, Lagos

The present lot, Untitled, exemplifies the techniques and motifs that have distinguished Aboudia as a leading contemporary artist today. Gestural, frenetic, and influenced by street graffiti, the composition is at once childlike and ominous, underpinned by the shadows of conflict amidst which Aboudia creates his artworks.  

Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, also known as Aboudia, was born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire in 1983. He developed his signature style amidst the violence of the 2011 civil war following contentious presidential elections. The subjects depicted in his works often resemble soldiers and children, bringing focus to the devastation of conflict and the endurance of his community. Aboudia’s practice is also intrinsically tied to the street art of Ivorian children, referred to as ‘Nouchi.’  The street art created by these children are physical representations of their resilience, defiance, and hope.  

Executed in 2018, this lot is a continuation of Aboudia’s practice, tracing the hardships endured by the Ivorian people but also their relentless endurance to overcome these struggles.