Return to the opening of the "Depigmentation of Masks" exhibition
At this exhibition, he highlights voluntary depigmentation, a theme that has a particular resonance with the artist. This phenomenon mainly affects women from Afro-descendant communities in African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal or Côte d’Ivoire, but also communities residing in Europe.
What is voluntary depigmentation? It involves applying chemicals, in the form of creams or lotions, to lighten the skin. It can even be done in the form of injections.
What is the purpose of this practice? For these women, light skin is synonymous with superiority in the collective unconscious and enables them to attract and seduce men. It even forms part of the codes of beauty.
However, this practice is not without danger : it can cause skin diseases, such as black or light spots, stretch marks or eczema and thus cause irreversible physical damage.
To cure these ailments, Serigne uses the African mask as a remedy for the physical and psychological sequelae, consequences of this practice. A strong symbol of ancestral Africa, the mask represents, according to the artist, a powerful symbol and the pride of African culture.
In each of his works, he accurately and sympathetically reproduces this scourge and denounces the devastating consequences of such a practice. To do this, he uses various media such as digital printing, 3D animation, painting and graffiti.
To open the exhibition, he had taken up the challenge of creating a live painting during the evening, to the delight of the guests. For two hours, Serigne continued to employ his brushes and his paint bombs to achieve a technical and artistic feat.
Throughout the evening, many people came to admire the artist’s creations and to learn about and discuss the theme.
With the last brushstroke applied, and to the warm applause of the assembled throng, Serigne presented the work in golden tones, freshly produced, symbolising in a subtle way, an African woman victim of voluntary depigmentation.
It is with some emotion that he describes his work: "The black symbolises black skin. The golden lines enhance it while the white lines blur the look, two aspects to denounce the effects of voluntary depigmentation. Calligraphy and circles serve as a pictorial signature."
If you wish to discover Serigne’s works, they will be exhibited until 15 May 2023 in the atrium of the "Bord de Verre" building at IHECS.
If the theme interests you and you would like more information, please visit Serigne’s website in the "Exhibition" section.
This exhibition was produced with the support of IHECS and the potential support of the Equal Opportunities unit of the City of Brussels.
