Romuald Hazoumè: Carnaval

October Gallery is pleased to present Romuald Hazoumè’s 5th solo exhibition in London, Carnaval, which opens on 6th October and will coincide with 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair and Frieze London.

In this exhibition of new and much-anticipated work, Hazoumè returns to his signature masques bidons (repurposed masks), in which the artist keenly observes international concerns and the figures that populate the world’s political stage. In this new series of ‘masks’ composed of miscellaneous found materials, Hazoumè’s keen eye for detail coupled with his droll sense of humour percolate through to reinvigorate the form again, expanding its range to encompass new interpretive possibilities.

Hazoumè is careful to insist that the ‘masks’ he creates, ‘in no way resemble those originally powerful African masks used for ceremonial purposes. Whereas such artefacts exist as mysterious power objects, each of my “masks” portrays a real-life individual or even a distinct personality type.’ Indeed, some refer to specific African heads of state and the many politicians from that continent. Much of the enigmatic appeal of these masks is their ability both to conceal and yet reveal the hidden identity of their subjects.