MIROIRS DE L'HOMME, the first solo exhibition to be held at Societe Generale by American artist Fahamu Pecou

>>> Press visit and private view in the presence of the artist, Wednesday 28 September 2017 at 6 pm.
>>> The exhibition is open to the public by registration.

In 2014, Societe Generale acquired a painting by the artist, Negus is as Negus Does (153 x 132 cm), an imagined press cover inspired by The Favorite Magazine, “the first and only weekly magazine by and for colored people” published in the early 1900s. It features the artist striking the same pose as the Statue of Liberty holding up a Yoruba statue (from Nigeria) in one hand and in the other holding what could be Notebook of a Return to the Native Land by Aimé Césaire.

The Collection Societe Generale and Backslash gallery are happy to exhibit over 40 works (paintings, drawings, video) by the artist.

The artist

Fahamu Pecou, born in 1975, is an interdisciplinary artist whose works combine observations on hip-hop, fine art and popular culture. He made his mark early in his career with his faux covers of leading magazines such as George, Art Review and ArtNews.

With his provocative attitude and immediately identifiable universe, the artist avails himself of the tools of hip-hop culture to question Black identity in modern-day America and the exploitation of Black people and culture in the media. Tirelessly multiplying representations of African-American identity within our contemporary societies, his paintings, performances and academic projects make a strong statement, levelling criticism, sometimes caustic, often imbued with humor, at certain attitudes currently observed among Black men.

Fahamu Pecou’s artistic explorations also encompass a deep-reaching reflection on the splendor of the Black soul and the royal heritage of African cultures, reminding us that BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL. His sources of inspiration include the memory of the struggle for civil rights, and the Yoruba religion which survived in secret amongst enslaved Africans on plantations throughout the Americas. The tribal masks and gold that adorn the figures in a number of his works reflect his determination to present African-Americans other than as victim or threat, as well as referring to the police violence suffered by the Black community in recent years.

Currently completing his Ph.D at Emory University, Pecou is multi-faceted artist who is highly active in the digital sphere, he uses videos, conferences and public performances to present his work. As well as featuring in the Societe Generale Collection, Fahamu Pecou’s work is exhibited in many public collections, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American Art and Culture in Washington, Nasher Museum in Durham, High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Seattle Art Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art in Atlanta.

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Press contact:
L’art en plus: Virginie Burnet
v.burnet@lartenplus.com
+ 33 (0)1 45 53 62 74

Societe Generale: Astrid Fould Bacquart 
Astrid.fould-bacquart@socgen.com
+33 (0) 1 56 37 67 95