Ceinture Nwar exhibition by Rakajoo at the Palais de Tokyo - our photos

For over a decade, the Palais de Tokyo, in collaboration with theAssociation des Amis du Palais de Tokyo, has been committed to highlighting young French artistic creation. This year, the honor goes to Rakajoo, crowned at the Prix des Amis 2021-2022 ceremony held on September 7, 2022. Rakajoo invites us to discover his exhibition, Ceinture Nwar, an immersion in Afropean identity, through a work rich in dualities and pluralisms, reflecting both his African and European roots. The exhibition runs from October 19, 2023 to January 7, 2024.

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Rakajoo, whose nickname in Wolof evokes stubborn painting, is no ordinary artist. He brilliantly bridges the gap between dynamics often considered antagonistic. His painting, which evokes the duality of his identity, is a collective narrative based on his personal experiences. He speaks to us of a world where we can be African, European and both at the same time, without ever feeling dissociated from either of these identities.

Rakajoo 's art is distinguished by its ability to blend different artistic languages. Ranging from traditional painting to comics and animation, he uses a variety of techniques, from acrylics to ink, oil and even pixels. But beyond these methods, it's the content of his works that is striking. Rakajoo plunges us into his memories, from the banks of the Seine Saint-Denis to those of Senegal, via the lively alleyways of the Goutte d'Or.

The former Olympic boxer explores the links, visible or hidden, that bind individuals to their territories, and questions the evolution of these places in the face of constantly changing individualities and phenomena such as gentrification. Ceinture Nwar raises the essential question of national identity in all its complexity. A must-see for all lovers of contemporary art!