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Calixte Dakpogan

Born in 1958, Pahou, Benin
Lives and works in Porto Novo, Benin



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

Download: Resumé
Calixte Dakpogan
Art/Afrique. Le nouvel atelier
  • Group Show
Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, France
 -
 26.04.2017 - 28.08.2017
Calixte Dakpogan
Essentiel Paysage, Artistes contemporains africains
  • Group Show
Al Maaden Art Gallery, Centre d'Art contemporain Africain, Marrakech, Maroc
 -
 09.11.2016 - 04.03.2017
Calixte Dakpogan
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London 2014
  • Group Show
Somerset House, Londres, Angleterre
 -
 14.10.2014 - 19.10.2014

PUBLICATIONS

Les Initiés, un choix d'oeuvres(1989-2009)de la collection d'art contemporain africain de J. Pigozzi

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
African Stories

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

Les 15 meilleurs catalogues d'expositions de Paris

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

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05.06.2017
Download: PDF
Art/Africa: le nouvel atelier

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
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Les Initiés vous attendent à la Fondation Vuitton

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

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26.05.2017
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Exposition Art Afrique. Le nouvel atelier, à la Fondation Vuitton

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

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20.05.2017
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L'Afrique en grand dans une triple exposition à la Fondation Louis Vuitton

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

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19.05.2017
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From Porto-Novo to ParisAfrica, contemporary art's new hot-spot

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Bodys Isek Kingelez


From Porto-Novo to ParisAfrica, contemporary art's new hot-spot

The Economist
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11.05.2017
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L'incontournable collection Pigozzi, Portfolio

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

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01.05.2017
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A look on the exhibitions at the Fondation Louis Vuitton

Chéri Samba,

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Moke,

Rigobert Nimi Mayuba


A look on the exhibitions at the Fondation Louis Vuitton

Aeworld
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27.04.2017
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L'Afrique envahit la Fondation Louis Vuitton

Calixte Dakpogan


L'Afrique envahit la Fondation Louis Vuitton

Connaissance des Arts

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By Guillaume Morel

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27.04.2017
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Focus sur la vibrante scène sud-africaine à la Fondation Vuitton

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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Comment l'Afrique est en train de bousculer l'art contemporain

Calixte Dakpogan,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Rigobert Nimi Mayuba


Comment l'Afrique est en train de bousculer l'art contemporain

Les Inrockuptibles
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24.04.2017
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Jean Piggozzi, un mondain à part

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

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22.04.2017
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What's driving the growing interest in African art?

Calixte Dakpogan,

Romuald Hazoumè


What's driving the growing interest in African art?

The Art Newspaper

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By Jane Morris

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13.04.2017
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L'Oeil de Jean Pigozzi

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

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05.04.2017
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Rabat célèbre

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

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08.03.2017
Avril 2017. Exposition Art Afrique. Le nouvel atelier

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

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03.01.2017
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La cité ocre se dote d'un Musée d'art contemporain africain

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

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22.11.2016
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Contemporary Art in Benin: A History in Ten Artists

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

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18.01.2016
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