International Visual Art Festival of Abidjan 2007

Workshops-exhibitions-performings-symposium-screening-installations
ART AND DEVELOPMENT

From the 22nd of November to the 9th of December 2007

I-PRESENTATION
1-Summary
From November the 22nd to December the 9th 2007 will take place the first edition of International Visual Art Festival of Abidjan. A multidisciplinary festival with paint, sculpture, photography, design, heritage, history of art and a symposium. VAA 2007 is a festival of international artistic reunions which unites creators from Europe, America, Asia and Africa around this topic: Art and development. VAA2007 is a strongly expected event by Ivorian creators, by professionals but also by art lovers. It is the first wide-ranging event dedicated to visual arts in Côte d’Ivoire since the start of the crisis. Our ambition is to put together the ideas and initiatives which go beyond our own entities and questions relevant to origins so as to give rise new creations.

2- The goals
VAA 2007 aims:
- At promoting and broadcasting the works of artists by confronting their styles, their eras and their groups.
- At repositioning Côte d’Ivoire in the international plastics art arena.
- At contributing to the emergence of local skills.
- At giving the opportunity to the public to discover or rediscover current creations in the field of visual arts.

3-The promoters
-AIPAV or the Ivorian Association of Visual Art Professionals presided over by the writer and painter Jacobleu - Knight of the Order of Culture.
-The FARAGA Association, Paris (France), the President and artistic Manager of which is Mr. Celestin Koffi Yao.
-The Charles DONWAHI Foundation for Contemporary Art presided over by Illa Donwahi, a collector.
-The LE LAB Contemporary Art gallery of Thierry Fieux in Abidjan.

II-VAA 2007 ACTIVITIES
The activities are based mainly on workshops, on exhibitions, on a symposium, a screening, sightseeing wonderful places and evening performing.
1-The workshops of creation
The workshops are intended to initiate team works among so that they can work together, discover each other, train themselves and achieve works in a spirit of family and friendliness. Other people who want to initiate themselves to a precise technique in plastic arts or know about its way of functioning can be invited to this activity at their request.

2-Exhibitions
They are mainly dedicated to the works of official selected artists partaking in the International Visual Arts Festival of Abidjan in appropriate rooms. Nevertheless, an off-participation is offered to the other artists who are not of the official selection.
Paintings, engravings, sculpture, photographie, design items, films and any creation that can be publicly presented will be part of the works to exhibit during VAA2007.
Unlike the conventional exhibition, some artists, selected in the frame of this project can perform or make installations so as to get a particular relationship.

3- Performings and shows
Performing and shows are intended to bring together cultural agents like artists, journalists, promoters and art lovers. A film on a given artist or on a peculiar artistic process can be the object of the exchanges.

4-The symposium
Its principal goal is to communicate with and bring together professionals, students and other art lovers around questions linked to current and contemporary art.
The opportunities offered by visual arts in human, socio-cultural, economical and political development will be in the center of the debates. A scientific committee will report the event and reflect on key philosophical issues during the show.

5- Sightseeing scenic places
This activity is very free and open to everyone. It’s intended to discover what the other has been doing in the field of arts and tie useful relationships. One key priority of this activity will be the promotion of Ivorian scenic destinations.

III-VAA 2007 AGENDA
The festival occurs over three weeks at the Charles DONWAHI Foundation for Contemporary Art (CDFCA) and at the LE LAB Gallery of Contemporary Art as well as at all the other art galleries in Abidjan and at several artistic and cultural sites of Côte d’Ivoire.

1-Dates to remember
From the 18th to the 22nd of November 2007: Hanging and installations of paintworks in galleries.
Thursday the 22nd of November at 18:30, CDFCA*: Vernissage of the In-exhibition in paintings, sculptures, photographie, design and digital arts of international and national artists.
Friday the 23rd of November2007 at 18:30, LELAB Gallery: Vernissage of the exhibition of the new pictorial writing by Stenka.
Saturday the 24th of November at 11:00 am, Santa Maria gallery: Vernissgae of an Off-exhibition of paintings, sculptures, design, pictures of artists to encourage.
From Sunday the 25th of November to Saturday the 08th of December 2007: Exhibitions, symposium, workshops and encounters at CDFCA.

2- In shows venues
The Charles DONWAHI Foundation for Contemporary Art(CDFCA)
II Plateaux, boulevard Latrille, at the hands of the Catholic Church Saint Jacques
The LELAB Contemporary Art gallery
II Plateaux Vallons, Rue des Jardins, not far from Bus Line 35 Terminus.

3- Off-shows venues
Santa Maria gallery, II Plateaux, boulevard Latrille, at the hands of “Mosque d’Aghien’’
Le LAC BLEU (II Plateaux, Rue des Jardins) and several artistic sites in Abidjan.


IV- THE PARTICIPANTS
1-The selected artists
USA: Keja Kramer, computer art (lecturer). Venezuela: Mundaray Ismael, paint. Japan: Toshinari Sato, digital art (exhibitor and lecturer). China: Lilinjao, photography. France: Eliane Chiron, computer art (lecturer). Lisa Mathieu, paint. Romuald Parshard, digital art. Jerome Havre, photography. Germany: Petra Warras, photography. Switzerland: Martina Gmür, digital art; Bessie Nager, light box photography. Senegal: Djadji Diop, sculpture- installation. Diagne Chanel, installation. Morocco: Brahim Bachiri, computer art (exhibitor and lecturer). Algeria: Simo Gomih, installation (exhibitor and lecturer). Cameroon: Alioum Moussa, installation Togo: Nkrumah Lawson Daku, photography. Diaspora Côte d’Ivoire: Kra N’Guessan, paint. Ernst Dükü, installation. Koffi-Yao, paint (exhibitor and lecturer). François-Xavier Gbré, photography. Homeland Côte d’Ivoire: Michèle Tadjo, sculpture. Bruno De Medeiros, photography. Franck Fanny, photography. Watt Kang, paint. Vincent Mban Deve, paint. Issa Watt, sculpture. Jacobleu, paint-installation. Pachard, paint-installation. Heinen, paint. Tamsir Dia, paint. Stenka, paint. Dimao, paint. Tanoh Martial, sculpture-installation. G.Nea, sculpture-installation. Ceko Nickassson, paint. Boua, paint. Soro Pehouet, paint. Elvis Donkor, sculpture. Eric Agnero, photography. Golly, sculpture. Moulo, paint. Patrick Boireau, photography. Ahonzo T., paint. Yapi Roger, paint. Yak, sculpture. Guest artist: Saïd Dicko, photography.

2-Lecturers
Arts in Côte d’Ivoire: historical outline of movements, trends and associations.
Mss Guirandou N’Diaye: Art Historian and gallery owner (Côte d’Ivoire).
Dr Agui Auguste Bailly: Dean of the Art and Communication Department, University of Cocody (Côte d’Ivoire).
Mr. Stenka Jacques Samir: Painter (Côte d’Ivoire).
Mimi Errol: Journalist and art critic (Côte d’Ivoire).

Art and New Medias
Mss Eliane Chiron: Plastics Technician, “Aggregation’’ holder in Plastic Art, Dr in Social Sciences, Teacher at University de Paris 1 Sorbonne, Responsible of DEA in Plastics Art at Université de Paris 1 Sorbonne, Teacher at Université de Paris 1 Sorbonne, Knight of the Palmes Académiques(France)
Ms Kreja Kramer: filmographer, video maker (USA).
Mr. Franck Petitta: CEO of the European Higher School of Entertainment, Orly (France).
M. Toshinari Sato: Painter, photographer and designer (Japan).

The Market of Art
Master Sylvain Sankale: President of the scientific Committee of Dak’art 2000(Senegal).
Mr. Thierry Fieux: Collector, General Commissioner of VAA2007 (Côte d’Ivoire).
Mr. Thierry Dia: Cultural promoter, Executive Manager of Houkami Guyzagn (Côte d’Ivoire).

Art and Peace
Mr. Manthia Diawara: Head of the Department of African Studies at the African and Afro-American Institute, New York University (USA).
Mr. Alain Richard Donwahi: Special Advisor of the Prime Minister, Executive Manager of the Defence and Security Cell (Côte d’Ivoire).
Diagne Chanel: Plastics Technician and photographer (France-Senegal).
Mr. Simoh Gomi: Plastics Technician and cultural mediator (Algeria).
Mr. Eric Agnero: Journalist reporter at VOA (Côte d’Ivoire).


Artistic initiatives and development
Mss Félix Brunau : President and Founder of Cité Internationale des Arts de Paris (France).
Mss Illa Donwahi: Deputy General Commissioner, President of CDFCA.
Mr. Ibrahim Diaby: Critic, journalist and sociologist (Côte d’Ivoire).

Which state policy to increase artists’ image and that of their creations in Côte d’Ivoire?
Mr. Voho Sahi: Philosophy Teacher ,University of Cocody (Côte d’Ivoire), Special Advisor of the President of Republic in charge of Culture (Côte d’Ivoire).
The Minister of Culture and French-speaking communities (Côte d’Ivoire).
Mss Sylvie Kassy: Museum curator, Managing Director of the Civilization Museum of Côte d’Ivoire.
Mr. Henri N’Koumo: art critic, Managing Director of the Art Museum of Cocody (Côte d’Ivoire).

Which integration policy in international network for artists from Diaspora?
Mr. Amos Fergombé: Performing Arts Teacher at Artois University (France).
Mr. Celestin Koffi-Yao: Painter and Dr in Sciences of Art (Côte d’Ivoire).
Mr. Benjamin Brou: Plastics Technician, Dr in Sciences of Art (France).

Foreign Guests
Julie Ann Huntington: cultural agent,
African Civilization Teacher at the University of Clemson (USA).
Serge Guy Aphanou: Cultural agent (Burkina Faso).



V- VAA 2007 ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE

1- The symposium scientific committee
Honorary President: Mss Félix Brunau.
President and Founder of Cité Internationale des Arts de Paris (France).
President: Mr. Alphonse Voho Sahi, Philosophy Teacher, University of Cocody,
Special Advisor of the President of the Republic in charge of Culture (Côte d’Ivoire).
Members: Mss Guirandou NDIAYE, Art Historian and gallery owner (Côte d’Ivoire).
Master Sylvain Sankale, Lawyer, President of the Scientific Committee of Dak’art 2000(Senegal).
Mr. Ibrahim Diaby, Critic, journalist and sociologist (Côte d’Ivoire).
Reporter: Mr. Celestin Koffi Yao, Plastics technician and Dr in science of Arts (Côte d’Ivoire).
Moderator: Mr. Henri N’koumo, Art critic, Managing Director of the Art Museum of Cocody, journalist (Côte d’Ivoire). Mimi Errol, Journalist (Côte d’Ivoire).
Program coordinator: Valerie Soman, communicator (Côte d’Ivoire).




2-Steering Committee

1
Jacobleu
Painter, writer
Cultural entrepreneur
Secretary General
Festival Supervision
Catalog follow-up
and Executive

2
Celestin Koffi-Yao
Plastics Technician
Dr. in Sciences of Art
Deputy Secretary general
Coordinator in Paris
Symposium reporter
and scientific committee follow-up

3
Thierry Fieux
Gallery owner Collector
Deputy Executive Manager Corporate
General commissioner
Artists selection
and In Exhibition organizer
4
Illa Donwahi
President of CDFCA
Collector
President of Board of Directors
Deputy General Commissioner
Artists and Infrastructures selection
Fund Raising research

5
Marcel Bilé
Consultant in marketing,
advertizing and communication
Communication
and Press
Communication
Media relationship
Promotion and Partnership

6
Valerie Soman
Consultant in Marketing and management
Programation Manager
Coordinator
Symposium detailed Schedule up

7
Faustin Agnero
Commnuicator
and Jurist
Administrative Secretary and treasurer
Secretary ship
Information management.
Reports and expenditures supervision

8
Dorcas Kété
Deputy administrative secretary
Communicator, personal Assistant
Secretary ship
Files and Mails follow-up

9
Bintou Ouattara
Movie actress
Consultant in fashion and esthetic
Welcome Service Executive
Airport welcome Service
Festival participants and Ceremonies management

10
Simplice Ahonzo
Painter
Museum curator
Paintworks and logistics Inventory Executive
Inventory and Identification of Paintworks to exhibit. Logistics materials Settlement

11
Cyprien Ouakoubo
Painter
Artistic Agent
Santa Maria Off-exhibition Executive
Santa Maria off-show Management