The Refuges exhibition explores multiple themes linked to the relationship between humankind and nature. It captures the concerns of artists and their different perspectives on ecological issues, each of them projecting observation and research around the idea of refuge, whether as a place of retreat, intimacy, shelter, escape, or spirituality.
The works underline the importance of recognizing the inherent value of nature and rethinking our connection to the environment, by taking into account the knowledge and practices of the global south, as opposed to inappropriate techniques inherited from colonial logics.
They highlight the fact that the current ecological crisis goes beyond material issues, and also represents a crisis of meaning and values. This calls for a collective and individual awakening, as well as a reorientation of our lifestyles.
By exploring the figures of the rhizome, the root and the mangrove, the works create a parallel between symbiosis with nature and cultural resistance to colonization. From Jems Koko Bi's dialogue with the power of nature to Binta Diaw's exploration of the notion of identity, the artists all contribute, in their own way, to addressing ecology as an issue of solidarity, respect for cultural differences and preservation of the dignity of nature.
