At the heart of our presentation lies an exploration of the Sacred: the power, being, or realm understood to be at the core of human existence. It appears in the beliefs, values, memories, and forms of attachment that condition human existence. In a world shaped by acceleration, divide, political instability, and ecological anxiety, the idea of the Sacred becomes increasingly fragile and contested. Through their distinct practices, Sébastien Boko and Rachel Malaika reflect on what remains meaningful in times of uncertainty: What do we still treat as untouchable, significant, or worthy of reverence?

Sébastien Boko presents a series of semi-abstract sculptures inspired by the shape, or "shadows" as he calls them, of Yoruba Gèlèdè masks, which honour feminine power as a source of balance within society. Each work is crowned with symbolic elements referring to sacred values, beliefs, or culturally significant icons. Engraved motifs combine the signs of electronic circuits with forms of feet, eyes, or ropes, recalling the Fon-language counting system. Bringing ancestral spirituality, science and knowledge into dialogue with contemporary technology, Boko lets us asks what remains sacred within modern societies. His works act as a form of cultural memory, carrying his heritage into the present.

In Rachel Malaika's works, the Sacred takes on multiple dimensions. By reworking colonial-era photography through textile interventions, she confronts seemingly fixed almost sacred visions of history. She reshapes, proposes new interpretations, and shows that new understandings are possible. For Malaika, the Sacred also resides in the female presence, resilience and inner strength. In her self-portraits, she embodies mothers, spiritual figures and political leaders, placing powerful female figures at the centre of the image. Crowned, adorned, and holding symbolic objects, these women occupy positions of authority historically associated with men. Through them, Malaika questions who is granted power, visibility, and reverence, as well as who has the authority to define what is sacred.