Works
Biography

According to Sylvain Sankale*, art critic in Senegal, “We no longer see hunger or fear, but simply the innocence of children playing, sometimes marked by solemnity. Children whose favorite playground is the street, for want of another.

 

It is possible to trace commonalities as to the variations on this theme, which goes from ABOUDIA to Armand BOUA, via YEANZI, but beyond the theme, the treatment reserved by each differs significantly…it is not possible to confuse their works.

 

The children of GNOHITE are no longer afraid, they have fun and delight in the joys of their youth with all the spontaneity of this blessed time of life, carefree and cheerful, despite the ugliness of the world around them.

 

The artist insists on capturing and preserving this happiness, this fullness, by referring to education, to the preparation of the adults of tomorrow, who had the chance, like him, thanks to his family environment, to enjoy a balanced education, who put his personal development first and did not interfere with his artistic aspirations.

 

In a swirl of large flat areas of primary and saturated colors (blue and yellow, mainly) whose playful character is reinforced by a myriad of dots and small circles of color, the main characters are sketched, suggested, schematized and perfectly recognizable for those who have seen children playing in the African sun and dust.

 

Prince Galla GNOHITE considers Grobli ZIRIGNON his teacher and from him he borrowed the technique of scraping and washing out paint that was projected onto the canvas using a pipette, an instrument familiar to children.

 

The bicycle and its inevitable accidents and flat tires, the worn tires that we push, hoops for adults, to give the impression of driving a car, football, of course, but also struggle, or for the more relaxed, reading; a list of the daytime activities, themes of GNOHITE’s work, which sometimes may be disrupted by the attack of a stray dog!

 

This work is distinguished from that of its predecessors by that happy vitality that we perceive from the start and which makes you want to dance in the dust and lead children from all over the world in the farandole.

 

Because, beyond the technical mastery, the chosen subject and its treatment, there emerges an infinite tenderness in Prince Galla GNOHITE’s works, a form of nostalgia for the artist from a carefree and happy time in his life seen through the prism of transpositions.

 

Having trained from 2000 to 2004 at the Regional Center of Arts and Crafts of Abengourou (CRAMA) in the Ivory Coast, Prince Galla GNOHITE, who is barely thirty years old, has acquired an indisputable technical mastery of his subjects, of the desired and obtained effects and of the composition of his works. He completed his training with the artist Youssouf De Kimbirila dit Le Quetzal, who believes GNOHITE shows great promise and a brilliant future.

 

GNOHITE also displays his talents in sculpture, design and decoration, and works in abstract, figurative and surrealist styles.

 

The curators were not mistaken in selecting Prince Galla GNOHITE for important artistic events in the Ivory Coast, even though he was not yet twenty years old. His success has continued, receiving extensive attention for his exhibitions in Europe as well as other African countries.

 

This very sunny exhibition, in the grayness of our days, gives us color, light and comfort that we so badly need”.

 

* February 28, 2021

 

 

Solo shows - 

2009

- "L'éveil spirituel " - Houkami Guyzagn Gallery – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

 

2007

- "AVA OFF" – Houkami Guyzagn Gallery – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

 

 

Group shows -

2019

- "Melting-Pot” - Onomo Hotel – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

- "Art et matière”- Melting-Pot – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

- "Une toile pour sauver l'enfant "- Museum of Civilisations – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

 

2018

- “Melting-Pot" – Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

 

2017

- “Regard croisé sur l'humain" – Houkami Guyzagm Gallery – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

- "BICICI, amie des arts” - BICICI – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

 

2014

- "Nature et vie" – Ecology Residence – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

 

2012

- Group show – Genova, Italy

- Group show – Museum of Civilisations – Abidjan, ivory Coast

 

2010

- "Entre chaos et sérénité" – Houkami Guyzagem Gallery – Abidjan, Ivory Coast

 

2007

- Group show – World Bank – Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire