Maison Ousmane Sow in Dakar
Dakar Biennial 2018 – Opening of Maison Ousmane Sow and private viewing of the exhibition presented by EIFFAGE: "Dans l'univers d'Ousmane Sow” (Inside the world of Ousmane Sow)
On 5 May 2018, for the thirteenth Dakar Biennial of Contemporary African Art in 2018, under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Senegal, Maison Ousmane Sow will open in Dakar, presenting the works of the artist who passed away on 1 December 2016. Ousmane Sow designed this house, in which he lived until his death, as a sculpture, a work of art in itself. It was here that he completed Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1999, which went on to be exhibited on the corniche in Dakar, then the Pont des Arts in Paris, along with his African series, in a retrospective that saw three million visitors.
Maison Ousmane Sow will no doubt join the list of legendary houses around the world, with its perfect balance between the works and the space, which is covered entirely in the materials the artist used for his sculpture, including the walls and tiles. Visitors will move freely through this labyrinthine space, discovering works of art, souvenirs and the studio, which has been left untouched since Sow’s death.
In line with the opening of Maison Ousmane Sow by Mr. Abdoul Latif Coulibaly, Minister of Culture, an exhibition will also be held at Eiffage’s beautiful offices. This will feature a photo-video installation by Béatrice Soulé, immersing visitors in the world of Ousmane Sow, followed by a circuit recounting the different episodes of the artist’s connection to the company between 1999 and 2018. Two pieces from the series Battle of the Little Big Horn will be presented at the centre of the exhibition: The Fallen Cavalryman and The Wounded Indian.