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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.“
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.
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
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
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
Veils, French Institute Cotonou, International Show of Architects, Cotonou
The Week Red House, Cotonou
Diplomatic Holiday, At The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Cotonou
The Echoes Of Lobozounkpa, Arts and Culture Center Of Robert Vallois, Cotonou
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
Prom’art Young International, 8th edition Place des Martyrs, Cotonou
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
Ostraka, International sculpture symposium, New Cairo, Egypte
Fusion, Abidjan en Côte d’Ivoire
Africa Now, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
World Wood Day, Graz, Austria
Inami, Japan
International Festival Of Plastic Arts, Assouindé, Ivory Coast
Off Biennal De D’akart, Senegal
International Sculpture Symposium On Wood, Brienz, Switzerland
World Wood Day, Odunpazari / Eskisehir Museum, Turkey
Faiva, African Virtual Artistic Image Festival. Bamako, Mali
World Wood Day Shanghai, Xianyou, Kunming City, People’s Republic of China
World Wood Day Dar es Salaam, Karimjeem Hallen, Tanzania
First International Sculpture Symposium on Libreville Wood, National Museum of Libreville, Gabon
Do It, French Institute of Lomé, Togo
Price Board Of The Agreement: Bénin art, at Royal Hotel Cotonou Benin
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
Gold Price, National Wood Sculpture Competition organized by International Wood Culture Society in Cotonou, Benin
Departmental Festival of Arts And Culture, 1st Prize Tori, Benin
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