Kiné Aw

Presentation

Born in Dakar in 1977, Kiné Aw – whose full name is Fatou Marie Françoise Aw – spent part of her childhood in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This time in the vibrant, culturally rich capital sparked a deep, lasting passion for art. She graduated from the École Nationale des Arts in Dakar in 2006 and later settled at the Village des Arts in Dakar, where she works in her studio, which she describes as her "laboratory" for creation and experimentation. Kiné Aw's artwork is characterized by a delicate balance between tradition and modernity. Her pieces explore African ancestral values while engaging with contemporary transformations. Inspired by surrealism and cubism, she has developed a unique style marked by the prominence of curved lines. Kiné Aw draws her inspiration from African mythology, ancient Egyptian symbols like the Eye of Horus, and local spiritual practices such as Ndeup and Leuk Daour. These influences add a mystical and dreamlike quality to her work, populated with mythological figures and enigmatic symbols. She also creates connections with other mythologies, including Greek mythology, by exploring complex figures like Medusa. Women, with all their complexity and various facets, are central to her artistic vision. Through her art, Kiné Aw reflects on the struggles, rights, desires, and aspirations of women facing the challenges of a society at the crossroads of modernity and ancestral heritage. Her work highlights the tensions between rootedness and emancipation, inviting reflection on the place of African women in a constantly evolving world. On a technical level, Kiné Aw uses a range of materials such as tar, acrylic paint, and pigments, aiming to transform the world’s chaos into a unique "order" that expresses her personal vision of Africa seeking modernity, enriched yet sometimes hindered by centuries-old traditions. Her career is marked by an international presence, with exhibitions in Senegal, Europe, the United States, and China, as well as notable institutional recognition. Awarded the Cuomo Foundation Prize in Monaco in 2008, she quickly made her mark on the global art scene. She has exhibited at several editions of the Dakar Biennale, notably in 2014 at the IFAN Museum, and has participated in international art fairs such as PRIZM Art Fair in Miami (2019) and ROOTS Atlanta (2021). Her work is supported by prominent institutions, including the Blachère Foundation in France, the Attijariwafa Bank Foundation in Morocco, and the James E. Lewis Museum of Art in Baltimore, where she has also conducted workshops. Kiné Aw has undertaken numerous artist residencies in China, Morocco, Germany, and the Netherlands. Her works are part of prestigious collections worldwide, including the Blachère Foundation in France, the royal collection of Mohammed VI in Morocco, the James E. Lewis Museum of Art in Baltimore, and the Attijariwafa Bank Foundation. Her art also enriches the collections of the Mbari Institute of Contemporary African Art in Washington D.C., the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, the Cuomo Foundation in Monaco, and the Senegalese Department of Culture, among other renowned institutions.