Calixte Dakpogan
Born in 1958, Pahou, Benin
Lives and works in Porto Novo, Benin
planton
Planton, 2010
Plastic, aluminum, iron, glass
15,7 x 11 x 5,7 inches
Plastic, aluminum, iron, glass
15,7 x 11 x 5,7 inches
CD1311010
Download : Artwork notice
iy-sakete
Iy-Sakete, 2009
Plastic, aluminum, copper, glass
15,7 x 10,6 x 5,9 inches
Plastic, aluminum, copper, glass
15,7 x 10,6 x 5,9 inches
CD1311014
Download : Artwork notice
le-chasseur
Le chasseur, 2009
Pearls, plastic, aluminum, iron
14,5 x 9,8 x 6,2 inches
Pearls, plastic, aluminum, iron
14,5 x 9,8 x 6,2 inches
CD1311005
Download : Artwork notice
Calixte Dakpogan's Vodun heritage is intrinsic to his work. Born to a family of blacksmiths, he grew up in the Goukoumé district of Porto Novo, Benin, a district dedicated to Ogun, the god of iron. Ogun is the principal divinity worshiped by the Dakpogan family. The tradition of metalworking has been carried from father to son since their ancestor Sabgo Ayato worked as a blacksmith in the royal court of King Toffa.
The abundance of car wreckages in Porto Novo has provided Calixte Dakpogan with an inexhaustible source of materials. He began to use scavenged car parts to create standing figures, following directly in the tradition of Fon statues made from scrap iron in the early nineteenth century. In 1992, he was commissioned to create a series 100 of these works for Ouidah 92: The First International Festival of Vodun Arts and Cultures. Their contribution remains on permanent display. Today, after an interval of one and a half centuries, the relationship between Fon sculptures and the work of Dakpogan transcends purely visual or technical aspects, being intimately related with the creative process.
Since 1990, Calixte has worked independently, using salvaged metallic and plastic elements to create anthropomorphic figures and masks. A gas tank becomes a body or headlights become teeth. Two formless segments become a recognizable personage. His creations, full of talent, humour, and stories, are imbued with a contemporary imagination and an astounding inventiveness
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PUBLICATIONS
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Seyni Awa Camara,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez,
Abu Bakarr Mansaray,
Moke,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé,
Les Initiés, un choix d'oeuvres (1989-2009) de la collection d'art contemporain africain de J. Pigozzi
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Author : Suzanne Pagé, André Magnin, Angeline Scherf, Ludovic Delalande
Editor : Fondation Louis Vuitton, Dilecta
2017
Joël Andrianomearisoa,
Steve Bandoma,
Bela,
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Chéri Samba,
Chéri Chérin,
Calixte Dakpogan,
Omar Victor Diop,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
George Lilanga,
Albert Lubaki,
Gonçalo Mabunda,
JP Mika,
Moke,
Gérard Quenum,
Kura Shomali ,
Monsengo Shula,
Cyprien Tokoudagba,
Pathy Tshindele,
Billie Zangewa
African Stories
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Author : André Magnin
2014
PRESS
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez,
Moke,
Malick Sidibé
L'art contemporain africain selon Louis Vuitton
Le Temps
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By Laurent Wolf
30.07.2017
Download: PDF
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
Un été africain à Paris
Le Figaro Scope
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By Valérie Duponchelle, Sophie De Santis, Margaux d'Adhémar
10.07.2017
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Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Seyni Awa Camara,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez
Les Initiés - Un choix d'oeuvres de la collection d'art africain de Jean Pigozzi (1989-2009)
Télérama
30.06.2017
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Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Seyni Awa Camara,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez,
Abu Bakarr Mansaray,
Moke,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
Les 15 meilleurs catalogues d'expositions de Paris
Evous
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By André Balbo
05.06.2017
Download: PDF
Seyni Awa Camara,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez,
Moke,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,
Malick Sidibé
Art/Africa: le nouvel atelier
Damn Magazine
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By Anna Sansom
01.06.2017
Download: PDF
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Seyni Awa Camara,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez,
Abu Bakarr Mansaray,
Moke,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
Les Initiés vous attendent à la Fondation Vuitton
Syma News
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By Florence Yeremian
26.05.2017
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Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Seyni Awa Camara,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez,
Abu Bakarr Mansaray,
Moke,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
Exposition Art Afrique. Le nouvel atelier, à la Fondation Vuitton
Evous
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By André Balbo
20.05.2017
Download: PDF
Seyni Awa Camara,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
Moke,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
L'Afrique en grand dans une triple exposition à la Fondation Louis Vuitton
Culturebox
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By Valérie Oddos
19.05.2017
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Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Bodys Isek Kingelez
From Porto-Novo to ParisAfrica, contemporary art's new hot-spot
The Economist
11.05.2017
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Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Seyni Awa Camara,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez,
Abu Bakarr Mansaray,
Moke,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
L'incontournable collection Pigozzi, Portfolio
Le Monde Hors-série. Le printemps africain. Art/Afrique, le nouvel atelier à la Fondation LV
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By Suzanne Pagé
01.05.2017
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Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Moke,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba
A look on the exhibitions at the Fondation Louis Vuitton
Aeworld
27.04.2017
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Calixte Dakpogan
L'Afrique envahit la Fondation Louis Vuitton
Connaissance des Arts
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By Guillaume Morel
27.04.2017
Download: PDF
Calixte Dakpogan,
Seydou Keïta,
Abu Bakarr Mansaray,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Focus sur la vibrante scène sud-africaine à la Fondation Vuitton
Le Parisien
26.04.2017
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Calixte Dakpogan,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba
Comment l'Afrique est en train de bousculer l'art contemporain
Les Inrockuptibles
24.04.2017
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Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
Seydou Keïta,
Rigobert Nimi Mayuba,
Malick Sidibé
Jean Piggozzi, un mondain à part
Le Monde Magazine
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By Philippe Ridet
22.04.2017
Download: PDF
Calixte Dakpogan,
Romuald Hazoumè
What's driving the growing interest in African art?
The Art Newspaper
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By Jane Morris
13.04.2017
Download: PDF
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
L'Oeil de Jean Pigozzi
L'Express
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By Julie Boukobza
05.04.2017
Download: PDF
Pierre Bodo,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Gonçalo Mabunda,
Malick Sidibé
Rabat célèbre " L'Afrique en Capitale "
La nouvelle Tribune
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By Leila Ouazry
08.03.2017
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,
Seyni Awa Camara,
Chéri Samba,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Seydou Keïta,
Bodys Isek Kingelez,
George Lilanga,
Abu Bakarr Mansaray,
Moke,
J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,
Malick Sidibé
Avril 2017. Exposition Art Afrique. Le nouvel atelier
Evous
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By André Balbo
03.01.2017
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Amani Bodo,
Chéri Samba,
Chéri Chérin,
Calixte Dakpogan,
John Goba,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Gonçalo Mabunda,
Abu Bakarr Mansaray
La cité ocre se dote d'un Musée d'art contemporain africain
Le Matin Maroc
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By Mokhtar Grioute
22.11.2016
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Calixte Dakpogan,
Romuald Hazoumè,
Gérard Quenum,
Cyprien Tokoudagba,
William Adjété Wilson
Contemporary Art in Benin: A History in Ten Artists
The Culture Trip
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By Rebecca Jagoe
18.01.2016
Download: PDF
Born in 1958, Pahou, Benin
Lives and works in Porto Novo, Benin