Nuits Balnéaires Window into Bassam
- Billboards at College St & Delaware Ave
Multidisciplinary artist Nuits Balnéaires draws inspiration from Grand-Bassam in Ivory Coast, where he is based. His billboard installation Window into Bassam presents two images with distinctive compositions, where figures, the expanse of blue skies, and lush vegetation come together to reflect the unique character of the coastal West African city. Through their low-angle perspectives, the images mirror the sky above, blending the billboards with their urban surroundings and creating an immersive illusion that serves as a portal to another place. The photographs’ visual language vividly narrates Bassam’s storied past, weaving threads of diverse histories and collective memories into the fabric of the city’s cultural traditions.
In the two works presented, titled Crépuscule 4 and Adahonlin 2, fundamental experiences of Bassam’s residents emerge. Through the solemnity of time-honored rituals, or the interplay of shadow and light, each image becomes a testament to the layered legacy of its people. In the series Crépuscule, the protagonist’s red skin manifests the depth of his internal struggle as he navigates the streets beneath the scorching sun of Grand-Bassam’s former French colonial district. Amidst the backdrop of colonization and urban expansion, the protagonist grapples with moments of profound contemplation and melancholy, endeavoring to reconcile the various timelines that shape his life. Meanwhile, Nuits Balnéaires’ framing presents a contrasting perspective, highlighting the endurance of nature within the urban landscape. As flora thrives amidst confining concrete, it echoes the community’s growth, subtly reminding us of the power of adaptation and the unyielding spirit of culture.
Adahonlin 2 is part of the 2021 series The Power of Alliances, which explores the shared heritage of the N’zima Kôtôkô—the seven founding families of Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast. Each family is distinguished by symbols that represent their defining traits. For instance, the Adahonlins represent their historical roles as farmers and educators through the symbols of the parrot and palm nuts. To them, nourishing the mind is just as vital as nourishing the body—a cultural value deeply rooted within their community’s traditions. Nuits Balnéaires extends these explorations, invoking a vision of collective aspirations that forges a path towards unity, iterating the relevance of these cultural narratives.
The installation evokes a profound sense of connection and continuity, inviting viewers to engage contemplatively with their environment. The artist’s works beckon transformation and empowerment amidst Toronto’s cityscape, amidst erased histories and geographies. Window into Bassam serves as a bridge between the histories and lived experiences of Grand-Bassam and Tkaronto/Toronto, enriching the viewer’s understanding of cultural interplay and personal significance.
In conjunction with this public art installation, BAND invites you to experience Nuits Balnéaires’ first solo exhibition in Canada, United in Bassam, presented at the Meridian Arts Centre, featuring more than 20 photographs from the 2021 series The Power of Alliances.
Curated by Mariah Coulibaly
Presented by CONTACT Photography Festival in partnership with BAND. Supported by PATTISON Outdoor Advertising.
Nuits Balnéaires is an Ivorian multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Abidjan in a large Akan Agni-bona and Malinké family. Currently based in Grand-Bassam, his practice explores territories and exile, the passage of time and nostalgia, the social structures and mechanisms that underpin the multiculturalism existing along the current Gulf of Guinea region. Over the years, his works on the cultures and social structure of the N’Zima people of Grand-Bassam have opened him to a new perspective of the collective imaginary of Côte d’Ivoire. Through his photo practice he shares stories intimately rooted in tradition and culture. Nuits Balnéaires’ work has been exhibited internationally including at ART X Lagos, 1-54 Contemporary art fair in Paris Christie’s, and FNB Art Johannesburg.
Mariah Coulibaly is an independent curator and researcher from Côte d’Ivoire and France, currently based in Toronto. Informed by her upbringing in West and Central Africa, her work explores identity, perspectives and imaginaries. Fascinated by the intricacy of social and cultural relations and the balance between individuality and community, Coulibaly aspires to create unique experiences and space for dialogue between observers and artists’ works. Coulibaly holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Policy and Management from Sciences Po Paris’ School of Public Affairs.
Curated by Mariah Coulibaly
