Bikoka Art Project, a new initiative developed by Christine Eyene in Bikoka (Lolodorf), fostering artistic and professional opportunities for local youth and women in the field of contemporary art, launched in Lolodorf (Cameroon) with a new commission by Cameroonian artist and photographer Yvon Ngassam.
Presented at Lolodorf Municipal Foyer from 11 to 25 February 2022, Portrait of a Community – Features of a Land includes portraits of inhabitants of Lolodorf – a south province of Cameroon located in the Ocean division –, everyday scenes, and landscapes captured by Ngassam during a first visit in August 2021.
The collection of images feature portraits of local patriarchs whose gaze plunges us into local knowledge, as well as the history and living memory of Lolodorf. To these are added landscapes showing the verdant nature of the region, architectures inherited from German (1884-1916) and French (1916-1960) colonisation, or even more abstract images revealing isolated shapes, such as a window or the structure of a wall. The dynamism of human activity is represented through market and street scenes, as well as nocturnal wanderings.
Echoing Ngassam’s photographs, are included a series of archive images. These will be the topic of future research on the history of Lolodorf.
Portrait of a Community – Features of a Land was curated by Christine Eyene assisted by Yves-Xavier Ndounda, and organised in collaboration with Lolodorf City Council.
This exhibition is part of Yaounde Photo Network’s programme of events.
Click on images to view slideshow with captions.
Yaounde Photo Network 