Marcel TCHOPWE

Presentation

Born in the Far North region of Cameroon, Marcel TCHOPWE is a young artist passionate about drawing and painting. In 2014, he interrupted his studies in geoscience and environmental studies at the University of Ngaoundéré to enroll in the Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Douala in Nkongsamba (IBA). Five years later, he graduated with a degree in fine arts. In order to further his education and immerse himself in the art scene, he worked with artists such as Hervé YOUMBI, Jean Jacques Kanté, SALIFOU LINDOU, and Jean David Nkot. Today, he is still mentored by Hervé YOUMBI, who was his teacher at IBA and is now considered his mentor. Marcel's work revolves around psychological portraiture in relation to social unease, where he explores emotions and human complexity. Whether through painting, drawing, or installations, social discomfort serves as a pretext for him to journey through the inner world of his subjects. He highlights the latent social discontent that accompanies our pursuit of profit in an era where capitalism increasingly defines us. Influenced by artists such as Lucien Freud, Cristina Troufa, Kevin Peterson, and Mich Griffitchs, who serve as models for him in exploring human emotions and their capacity to be human, Marcel's artistic production portrays the psychological profile of Cameroonian and African youth navigating a landscape marked by a significant gap between their university education and the job market. Through a realistic approach, he provides insight into the daily lives of a youth educated for unemployment. Marcel's works depict young people with the tools of their dream professions, engaged in menial jobs that have become their sole escape for survival. Against flat backgrounds, this abandoned youth is seen in burning solitude, facing their situation. Through this work, he sparks a discussion about the role of youth in a society undergoing transformation. He also questions the functionality of social mobility and equal opportunities in a political landscape marred by poor governance. The question of emotion is a constant concern in Marcel's work as he explores the inner world of his characters, leading to introspection of himself and humanity as a whole. He delves into the mindset of his subjects through facial expressions, body language, gestures, clothing styles, and the objects that surround them because they reflect our inner selves. In his paintings and drawings of recent years, sadness, anxiety, and solitude occupy a central place in his creation, reflecting the economic situation of African youth on the cusp of entering the job market after their university and professional training.