Jean-Servais Somian
Jean Servais Somian (B. 1971. Ivory Coast) is a visual artist based in Paris & Abidjan. His works mostly include design, sculpting and cabinetmaking. Jean Servais Somian followed his first training at the artisanal centre in Grand-Bassam in Ivory Coast. He then attended a design agency in Lausanne, Switzerland where he gained additional training in furniture and layout. Somian now mainly works with coconut tree wood, appointed as his preferred material. His creations have been exhibited in numerous places such as Cologne, Aachen, Paris, Alger and Dakar. In 2013, the artist has been awarded with the Archibat prize for the launch of the design exhibition called AbijaNow happening in Abijan. The reputation of his artwork is increasing all over Africa, and especially at home, in Ivory Coast.
EXHIBITIONS
2018
AFRICA AFRICA, Palazzo Litta, Milan.
2017
AKAA ART FAIR, LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery & 50 Golborne Gallery, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris.
DUBAÏ DESIGN WEEK, Africabydesign, Dubaï.
ART PARIS ART FAIR, 50 Golborne Gallery, Grand Palais, Paris.
THE SPACE BETWEN, 50 Golborne Gallery, London.
2016
BABITOPIE, LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery, Abidjan.
DAKAR MARTIGNY, Musée de Martigny, Suisse.
ART PARIS ART FAIR, 50 Golborne Gallery, Grand Palais, Paris.
AKAA ART FAIR, 50 Golborne Gallery, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris.
MASA, Marché des Arts et Spectacle Africain, Abidjan.
2015
TROPISME, 50 Golborne Gallery, London.
NOW LE OFF, Paris Design Week, Musée du Design et du Textile, Paris.
AFRICA DESIGN DAYS, Fondation ONA, Villa des Arts de Rabat et Casablanca.
2014
ADJAPADIAI, Galerie Arts pluriels, Abidjan.
ABIDJAN ART FESTIVAL, Fondation Amadou HAMPÂTÉ BA, Abidjan.
DIALOG, Galerie Philippe Lawson, Paris.
MELTING-POTES, Musée du Montparnasse, Paris.
2013
MADE IN COTE D’IVOIRE, Galerie Arts pluriels, Abidjan.
ABIDJAN NOW DESIGN, Prix Archibat Design, Salon ARCHIBAT, Abidjan.
AFRICAN WEEK, Unesco, Paris.
2012
LES DEMOISELLES DE GRAND-BASSAM, Galerie Arts pluriels, Abidjan.
2011
FESTIVAL AFRIQUE DANS TOUS LES SENS, Musée du quai Branly, Paris.
2010
FESMAN, La Medina Biscuiterie, Dakar.
2009
PANAF Festival Culturel Africain, Safex, Alger.
2008
VISIONEN FUR AFRICA, Aachen, Allemagne.
AFRIQUE MIROIR, Dak’Art 8ème Biennale Internationale de Dakar.
2006
LUCIEN PELLAT-FINET, installation vitrine, Paris.
2002
BIENNALE INTERNATIONALE DU DESIGN DE SAINT-ÉTIENNE, France.
2001
DOMSPITZEN Charity Gala, Cologne, Allemagne.
COLLECTION AZURRETTI, Agence Newsworld, Paris.
