SEBASTIEN BOKO

Sculptor | Benin

Sebastien Boko has a hereditary knowledge and passion for wood. It is a family belief that the blood mixes with the sap and is imbued into the work. Indeed, after his studies, it was at his father’s workshop in Zogbodomey in Benin that he began learning to carve wood.   

It is as though there is a big veil separating us from the mystery of life. In quest for power, humans have veiled themselves, sometimes in the face of their own weaknesses. We do not reveal everything to others, and everything is not revealed to us.

PORTRAIT

Sebastien Boko (1984), born and raised in Benin in a family of sculptors, received his artistic formation from his father’s workshop in Zobodomey in Benin, through artistic collaboration with amongst others Dominic ZinkPé and several international residencies. Although sculpture is his main form of artistic expression, Boko doesn’t hesitate to cross over to other forms including performances, installations, slam poetry, and music which explains the diversity and uniqueness of his work. 


In his semi-figurative and abstract sculptures he uses often symbolism from the African Gélèdè culture placed in a contemporary setting with a mixture of materials such as wood, metal and symbolistic objects of mixed media including padlocks and sections of chains. He often recycles materials from oil barrels and auto parts.


Boko is well recognised in Benin and received several awards over the past years. He has participated in many international exhibitions and symposiums in Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, China, Japan, Tanzania, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Togo and the Netherlands.  

Sebastien Boko (1984), born and raised in Benin in a family of sculptors, received his artistic formation from his father’s workshop in Zobodomey in Benin, through artistic collaboration with amongst others Dominic ZinkPé and several international residencies. Although sculpture is his main form of artistic expression, Boko doesn’t hesitate to cross over to other forms including performances, installations, slam poetry, and music which explains the diversity and uniqueness of his work. 

In his semi-figurative and abstract sculptures he uses often symbolism from the African Gélèdè culture placed in a contemporary setting with a mixture of materials such as wood, metal and symbolistic objects of mixed media including padlocks and sections of chains. He often recycles materials from oil barrels and auto parts.

Boko is well recognised in Benin and received several awards over the past years. He has participated in many international exhibitions and symposiums in Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, China, Japan, Tanzania, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Togo and the Netherlands.  



WORKS

CREDENTIALS

National exhibitions

2022
  • RÉSILIENCE, Résidence de l’ambassadeur de L’UNION EUROPÉENNE, Cotonou, Bénin
  • NOTARI ART, Chambre des notaires d’Afrique, Cotonou, Bénin
  • TRÊVE ET RÊVE, Galerie AS, Cotonou, Bénin
  • COTONOU VIBES, Galerie Zato, Cotonou, Bénin
2021
  • TRANSCENDANCE, Novotel, Cotonou, Bénin
  • MASCARADE, Maison Rouge, Cotonou, Bénin
  • L’ART-TRINE, Maison Rouge, Cotonou, Bénin
  • BELLE BIBLIOTHÈQUE, Unik lieu de Creation Contemporaine, Abomey, Bénin
2020
  • PORTE OUVERTE, Atelier Sébastien Boko, Cotonou, Bénin
  • LE MONDE AU FÉMININ, École International du Théâtre du Bénin (EITB), Cotonou
  • Artistes du monde 2020, l’Institut Francais de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin 
  • FOCUS, Galerie nationale du Bénin
2019
  • Veils, French Institute Cotonou, International Show of Architects, Cotonou 
2018
  • The Week Red House, Cotonou 
  • Diplomatic Holiday, At The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Cotonou
2017
  • The Echoes Of Lobozounkpa, Arts and Culture Center Of Robert Vallois, Cotonou 
2016
  • Exhibition – Workshop with Coffi Sètondji and Ludovic Fadairo, “COP21” Global Warming, French Institute of Cotonou 
  • Girl In Uniform, French Institute of Cotonou 
  • 3 Dimensions, Arts and Culture Center of Robert Vallois de Lobozounkpa 
  • Experimental Cenacle, French Institute of Cotonou 
  • The Envol, Air France in Cotonou 
  • Benin Art, Martyrs Square, Cotonou 
2013
  •  Prom’art Young International, 8th edition Place des Martyrs, Cotonou 
2012
  • Intense Generation, Red House, Cotonou 
  • German Cultural Week, Residence of the German Ambassador, Cotonou  
  • Biennale Regard Benin Density Generation New Unik, Place of contemporary creation in Abomey  
  • The Drafting, Cotonou 
  • 3 Arts, Société Générale des Banques, Cotonou 
  • Ahwan Kpo Do Te, Martyrs Square, Cotonou 

International exhibitions

2022
  • Ostraka, International sculpture symposium, New Cairo, Egypte
2021
  • Fusion, Abidjan en Côte d’Ivoire
2020
  • Africa Now, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2019
  • World Wood Day, Graz, Austria
  • Inami, Japan 
2018
  • International Festival Of Plastic Arts, Assouindé, Ivory Coast 
  • Off Biennal De D’akart, Senegal 
2017
  • International Sculpture Symposium On Wood, Brienz, Switzerland   
2016
  • World Wood Day, Odunpazari / Eskisehir Museum, Turkey 
  • Faiva, African Virtual Artistic Image Festival. Bamako, Mali 
2014
  • World Wood Day Shanghai, Xianyou, Kunming City, People’s Republic of China 
2013
  • World Wood Day Dar es Salaam, Karimjeem Hallen, Tanzania 
2012
  • First International Sculpture Symposium on Libreville Wood, National Museum of Libreville, Gabon 
2011
  • Do It, French Institute of Lomé, Togo





Awards

2015
  • Price Board Of The Agreement: Bénin art, at Royal Hotel Cotonou Benin 
2010 & 2013
  • Fesnac -1st and 2nd prize National Festival of Arts and Culture in Benin 
  • Prom’art Young International, 8th Grand Prix of Cotonou Sculpture, Benin 
  • World Wood Day “Strongest Content” African Sculptor Award 2013, Dar Es Salam, Tanzania 
2012
  • Gold Price, National Wood Sculpture Competition organized by International Wood Culture Society in Cotonou, Benin  
2011
  • Departmental Festival of Arts And Culture, 1st Prize Tori, Benin 



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