Portraits of patriarchs, green lands and scarce markets, those are the snippets of life in rural Lolodorf (Cameroon) photographer Yvan Ngassam has decided to curate while visiting this summer and which compose Portrait of Community - Features of a Land, kick-start exhibition of BIKOKA ART PROJECT, launching today Friday 11 February 2022.

BIKOKA ART PROJECT is the latest initiative developed by art historian and curator Christine EYENE and aims at highlighting creative and professional opportunities for young people and women in contemporary art amidst ongoing rise of. The project kicks off with Portrait of a Community – Features of a Land, exhibition by Cameroonian artist Yvon Ngassam capturing antics and unseen moments of triviality of Lolodorf’s inhabitants. The contemporary stills reignite a sense of calm and simplicity amongst the viewers. Everyday scenes the artist captured this summer as he engulfed himself in the life of quiet green area.

Links between past and present can also be found as a collection of archive images are also integrated echoing Ngassam,’s photographs and will be the central to future research work on the colonial history of Lolodorf.

BIKOKA ART PROJECT also goes digital with Digital Africa – Lolodorf, a video art programme featuring Thando
MAMA (South Africa), Nono MOTLHOKI (South Africa), Philippa NDISI-HERRMANN (Kenya-Germany)
and Mohamed THARA (Morocco-France).

There is more to expect from Bikoka Art Project as it will grow as an artists residency, exhibition space, art library, and a sculpture garden focusing first on Cameroonian talents before opening up internationally.

Pictures:
The French Bridge
Street Scene
The Market
View of Mount Mbanga
Night Life,
Yvon Ngassam, 2021, All Courtesy Bikoka Art Project