'This year marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Edmond Jabès, the poet and writer of African (Egypt) origins. His work has never ceased to enlighten us. With his questions and formulations,Edmond Jabès is in harmony with my vision of the world, and his work resonates with my artistic practices. Acomplicity of thought emerged when reading his writings. Learning more about the world of Edmond Jabès,particularly his Livre du partage (the Book of Shares) inspired me to conceive an artistic proposal during the Busan 2020 International Biennale in Korea; this resulted in a series of 8 paintings entitled Partages I – VIII. My personal exhibition at Galerie Lelong & Co. in September 2021 will continue the work started in Busan in2020. This project, which consists of a series of blue paintings produced in 2020 and 2021, will include abrand-new interactive installation: the public will be invited to make a material donation or send a paper orelectronic message.'–Barthélémy Toguo
The Bamiléké are a socio-cultural group who live in the highlands of West Cameroon. A Bamiléké chiefdom is a sort of micro-state centred around a powerful King enjoying the power of a semi-divine being.
Around the idea of partage (sharing), the artist Barthélémy Toguo has created links between the writer Edmond Jabès and the Bamiléké people, though their shared African origins, genocide, wandering and exile.Barthélémy Toguo was inspired by a legend of the Bamiléké people relating the fury of a divinity who, as nightfalls, puts on huge shoes and laden with parcels, crosses the land handing out tears, chagrin and misery aspunishments for those who have contravened shared values.
A humanist, Barthélémy Toguo has taken this legend and adapted it to his own values of listening, forgiving, hospitality and sharing. Thus, the divine fury becomes a driver of generosity and the 'remodelled' Bamilékéspirit performs its nocturnal wanderings differently, more peacefully, handing out riches of all sorts to helplead the world to a better destiny.
Barthélémy Toguo was born in 1967 in Mbalmayo, Cameroon. He lives and works in Bandjoun (Cameroon) and Paris.
His works are exhibited in many collections including those of the Musée National d'Art Moderne (Paris), the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Paris), the MAC/VAL (Paris), the Tate Modern (Londres), the Museum ofModern Art (New York), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Miami), the Perez Art Museum (Miami), theFondation Louis Vuitton pour la creation (Paris), the Collection Agnès B. (Paris).The artist has recently been commissioned to produce four doorways for the Musée Rodin (Paris).
Barthélémy Toguo was born in 1967 in Cameroon. He lives and works between Bandjoun and Paris. Ecole Nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Abidjan, Ivory Cost. Ecole Supérieure d'Arts, Grenoble, France. Art Academy, Düsseldorf, Germany. Multidisciplinary artist, his works is exhibited worldwide. In 2008, he founded Bandjoun Station, an artist residence focusing on artistic exchanges located in the highlands of Western Cameroon.
In the 1990s, the gallery hosted artists who represented major movements in contemporary art: Sean Scully, Günther Förg, Andy Goldsworthy, Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Antonio Saura. The gallery also increased international recognition of the work of Ana Mendieta.
Galerie Lelong has a large publishing department which produces and distributes engravings, lithographs, digital prints and multiple objects, and collates these works in catalogues raisonnés.
It produces monumental sculptures to order for public spaces and private clients.
The gallery is present at the leading international contemporary art fairs (Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Art Basel Hong Kong, Fiac Paris, Frieze London, Frieze New York, Arco Madrid, Art Brussels, Expo Chicago...).
The directors of the gallery are Jean Frémon, Daniel Lelong and Patrice Cotensin in Paris and Mary Sabbatino in New York.
