Yann Stéphane Bisso at Halle Nord

Halle Nord is pleased to present the first solo exhibition by Yann Stéphane Bisso in an institutional context, in partnership with the art space In extenso in Clermont-Ferrand. Featuring a new series of large-scale paintings by the artist, a sound creation by Bob1000, and a poetic text by Debbie Alagen, the exhibition is based on the account of a trip to Ghana during which the American historian Saidiya Hartman attempted to decipher the traces of the Atlantic slave trade.

Collective memory plays a crucial role in the construction of diasporic identity in Bisso's work. The evocation of personal experiences and memories enable him to trace the contours of a kinship and origin that are hybrid. The paintings in the exhibition take inspiration from the game ludo, popular in Cameroon, the artist's home country. The painting "Pas-châssés" portrays the everyday life of the last apartment Bisso shared, capturing seemingly banal objects with symbolic significance.

The composition of the artworks explores connections to ancestors, history, and collective memory. Each piece delves into different themes such as the inevitability of death, the brevity of existence, and the construction of African neo-colonial identity. Symbolism related to Cameroon's colonial history is present throughout the exhibition, reinforcing the artist's exploration of trace and memory.

Bisso's painting style plays with notions of presence and disappearance, using oil paint to cover the canvas in a two-tone process reminiscent of a sketch. The exhibition also includes a sound piece created by Bob1000, adding another layer to the artistic exploration of memory and absence.

Yann Stéphane Bisso graduated from the Geneva School of Art and Design with a Master's degree in Visual Arts. His work explores diasporic culture and "creolisation", drawing from the concepts developed by the Caribbean thinker Édouard Glissant. Bisso has participated in various group exhibitions and art fairs, receiving recognition for his artistic contributions. The exhibition "Pas-châssés" will travel to Clermont-Ferrand after its initial run at Halle Nord.