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&.
Works
Art Fairs
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1-54 Contemporary Africain Art Fairs, London 2024
Freya Bamble-Carter, Safaa Erruas, Emo de Medeiros, Eman Ali, Mbaye Babacar Diouf, Temandrota 10 - 13 Oct 2024Read more -
1-54 Contemporary Africain Art Fair, New-York 2024
Freya Bramble Carter, Emo de Medeiros, Temandrota 1 - 4 May 202450 Golborne is delighted to be participating at 1-54 New York with new works by Freya Bramble- Carter, Temandrota, and Emo de MedeirosRead more -
1-54 Contemporary Africain Art Fair, London 2023
Larry Amponsah, Mbaye Babacar Diouf, Emo de Medeiros 12 - 15 Oct 2023We are delighted to be back at this year's 1-54 New York and will be presenting works by Larry Amponsah, Mbaye Babacar Diouf, and Emo de Medeiros.Read more -
Artissima Art Fair, Turin 2021
Willie Cole, Safaa Erruas, Sanaa Gateja, Emo de Medeiros, Ranti Bam 5 - 7 Nov 2021Read more -
1-54 Contemporary African Art fair, London 2021
Larry Amponsah, Sanaa Gateja, Emo de Medeiros, Safaa Erruas 14 - 17 Oct 2021Read more -
1-54 Contemporary Art Fair, NY 2021
Larry Amponsah, Emo de Medeiros, Sanaa Gateja, Willie Cole 17 - 23 May 2021Read more -
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Paris 2021
Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien, Emo de Mederios, Sanaa Gateja, Ranti Bam, Larry Amponsah 20 - 23 Jan 2021Read more -
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, London 2017
Emo de Medeiros, MALALA ANDRIALAVIDRAZANA, Olalekan Jeyifous, Wura-Natasha Ogunji 5 - 7 Oct 2018Read more -
1-54 Contemporary Art Fair, London 2018
MALALA ANDRIALAVIDRAZANA, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Emo de Medeiros 4 - 7 Oct 2018Read more -
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, NYC 2018
Emo de Medeiros, Johanna Choumali, MALALA ANDRIALAVIDRAZANA, Wura-Natasha Ogunji 4 - 6 May 2018Read more
Exhibitions
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It Resonates
Nine Artists From across Africa examined through the lens of 'Resonance' 14 Sep - 4 Oct 2025'It Resonates" assembles the works of nine artists of African origin around the notion of resonance a concept developed by German philosopher Hartmut Rosa, in the context of climate change and environmental degradation.Read more
The exhibition includes the Ugandan artists: Sanaa Gateja, who presents lush tapestries celebrating East African nature and culture; Joseph Ntensibe, represented by a rare landscape painting; and Collin Sekajugo. with brand new mixed- media works.
Also included are a series of Inks on Paper, and two installations by Moroccan artist Safaa Erruas. Temandrota, based in Madagascar, contributes his distinctive semi-abstractions made with earth sap, sisal, combined with acrylic on hand-made paper.
The presentation is completed by paintings from Nairobi -based artists: Chemu Ng'ok and Martin Jakaila- the latter show shown for the first time by an international gallery, alongside a sound piece by fellow Nairobian Joseph Kamaru. -
Chromatics
6 Oct - 3 Nov 201850 Golborne is delighted to present 'Chromatics', an exhibition by French-Beninese visual artist Emo de Medeiros. 'Chromatics' is grounded in the necessity of a radical fight against racism, "radical" meaning that the fight must also be symbolic and conceptual, aiming at destroying racialization mechanisms that create automatic thinking and a mainly subconscious linguistic "apartheid".Read more -
Out of the Whirlwind's Radiance
23 Aug - 29 Sep 201850 Golborne is delighted to present Out of the Whirlwind’s Radiance, a group exhibition featuring artists Willie Cole (b. Somerville, NJ, USA, 1955), Emo de Medeiros (b. Cotonou, Benin, 1979), Fatoumata Diabate (b. Bamako, Mali, 1980), Jakob Dwight (b. Mobile, Alabama, USA, 1977), Phyllis Galembo (b. New York, USA, 1952) and Leah Gordon (b. Ellesmere Port, UK, 1959), who explore in their work the notions of carnival and masquerade in Africa and its diaspora.Read more -
Transposition
Subtitle 7 Oct - 20 Nov 2016Emo de Medeiros has become known for his innovative approach to the languages of craft, design and digital technology through a wide variety of forms. Living between Cotonou (Benin) and...Read more
Press
News
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La Conciergerie, Paris | Revelation! Contemporary art from Benin
Emo de Medeiros February 13, 2025 Read more -
Le Point | Révélation ! Art contemporain du Bénin
Emo de Medeiros February 13, 2025 Read more -
Le Monde | Philippe Dagen
Emo de Medeiros February 13, 2025 Read more -
What is forgotten and what remains Dossier: African diasporas and creativity
Emo de Medeiros – Palais de la Porte Dorée May 19, 2021Read more -
Emo de Medeiros at 13th Gwangju Bienniale
Artnet February 22, 2021 Read more -
Interview Emo de Medeiros in "Le Point" Magazine
Emo de Medeiros answers questions about his participation to the "Ex Africa" exhibition at Musee du Quai Branly February 9, 2021Read more -
50 GOLBORNE announce presence at: 1-54 ART FAIR 2021 PARIS
Alt A Review January 20, 2021 Read more
