Born in 1977, Segou, Mali
Lives and works in Bamako, Mali
Amadou Sanogo was born in 1977 in Segou. His ancestors were Sénoufo, noble and farmers. They founded the commune of Zangorola in the area of Sikasso in the south of Mali that belonged to the Kingdom of Kénédougou (Country of light). Its kings Tiéba and Babemba Traoré are acknowledged and respected for being the last opponents to the colonial army lead by the French in Mali. Amadou Sanogo is happy to talk about his origins: "To know where we go we need to know where we are from". He is the heir of this land full of history, symbol of resistance and endowed of a rich artistic patrimony.
Obstinate, Amadou Sanogo did not follow the path he was supposed to. Instead of becoming an engineer, he chose to study at the Institut National des Arts in Bamako while a noble should not indulge in the activities of a griot. Annoyed by the academic training, Amadou Sanogo decides to pursue his own plastic research and learns the traditional technique of Bogolan, iconic fabric of the Malian culture, before turning to painting to develop his own language. His singularity leads him to collaborate with Simon Njami and Pascale Marthine Tayou in 2006. Abdoulaye Konaté, artist and director of the INA supports him.
Humanist and freethinker, he is also fed by tradition, which constitutes a source of knowledge, wisdom and inspiration to him. He takes a great interest into Bambara proverbs that are for him essential to the understanding of the Malian culture in its whole diversity. Since his youngest age, he is respected by his relatives for his ability to listen and his objectivity. Committed and federating, he opens in 2014 the Atelier Badialan in the heart of the wahhabite area where he welcomes young artists. For the first time in Bamako, artists are able to independently finance their own studio, living and working together, creating in emulation, in freedom and sharing their knowledge to the public.
Collections
FRAC Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France
Astrup Fearnley Museet, Oslo, Norway
The West Collection, Pennsylvania, USA
The Pizzuti Collection, Ohio, USA
Agnès b. Collection, Paris, France
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, France
