Emo de Medeiros French - Beninese, b. 1979

Biography

Emo de Medeiros (b: 1979) is a Beninese French artist. He graduated from Ecole Normale Superieure, and the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts, both in Paris. He lives and works in Cotonou and in Paris.

In his practice, he employs a variety of media including drawing, sculpture, text, video, photography, performance art, installations, painting, and textiles.

His work investigates new perspectives and conversations on the post-colonial, globalized and digitalized world. He is interested in the fusion of the digital and the material, looking into hybridizations, interconnections and circulations of forms, technologies, traditions, myths, and merchandise.

The focus of his research encompasses transcultural spaces and the questioning, through non linear narratives, of traditional notions of origin, locus of identity and their mutations. The work is characterized by a participatory approach fusing traditional, technological and semiological elements in transmedia forms. His work includes a salient conceptual dimension which he has been addressing through the production of non-chronological series such as: “Sutentures”, a series of textile works; “Vodunautes”, which involved sculpture and video, “Cymbalics” and “Electrofetishes”, which are both series of sculptures made from recycled materials and electronic diodes.

De Medeiros has recently been returning to using his hand and classic art materials to produce a new series of drawings in which he addresses notions of the self and authorship employing AI technologies.

De Medeiros’ work was exhibited in major institutions including: Musée du Quai Branly, Musée National de l’Histoire de l’Immigration, Centre Pompidou, Palais de Tokyo (all in Paris, France); The Markk Hamburg, and Savvy Contemporary in Germany; MACAAL, Morocco. It was included in international Biennials such as:13th Gwangju Biennale, Gwanju, South Korea; XXII Paiz Art Biennial, Guatemala City; 21st Contemporary Art Biennial Videobrasil; Dak’ Art Biennale. His work was featured in international media including: Le Monde, Beaux Arts Magazine, Arte TV, The Guardian, Hyperallergic, C&.

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