The Nomadic Studio

Barthélémy Toguo's exhibition, "The Nomadic Studio," presents a cartography of the contemporary world through the lens of constant travel, encompassing geographical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions. Toguo's practice is informed by his journeys, where each visited territory becomes a site for exchange and collaboration, integrating local skills, mythologies, and collective memories into his reflections on humanity and its relationship with the environment.

The exhibition features works inspired by Toguo's residencies and collaborations. In Japan, drawings on washi paper depict deities as guardians of the balance between humanity and nature, echoing Shinto traditions and his Cameroonian animist beliefs. Dialogues with Moroccan potters and embroidery workshops in India have informed new forms and textures. Porcelain pieces created in Paris with the Manufacture de Sèvres showcase marine motifs, highlighting ecological concerns. The show concludes with bronze portraits conceived as imposing coins, paying tribute to African historical figures and subverting economic iconography to emphasize their symbolic and political value.