Ange‑Arthur Koua
Ange-Arthur Koua’s work is defined by its rich blend of textiles and paint, often on recycled materials like jeans and bags. He uses techniques such as painting, gluing, sewing, even burning – creating textured “tapestries” that reflect chaotic yet deeply personal narratives.
Through these materials, Koua explores themes of identity, migration, ancestral memory, and the symbolic importance of clothing – particularly in certain Ivorian traditions where garments carry spiritual significance beyond death.
“The material that I use the most (textile) is not necessarily an act of recycling but rather that of the restitution of stories that these pieces of fabric have been able to record… the garment bears the mark of its user, their DNA signature…”
Koua crafted portraits using minimal means—pencil lines and fabric scraps—that evoke the “wawô” (soul) imbued in textiles worn by individuals, based on Akan cultural beliefs.
Denim (“blue jeans”) – a universal garment – represented both the ordinary wear and the existential struggles shared across humanity. The use of jute, reminiscent of Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa and textile commodities, underscores themes of human commodification.
Subtle but powerful details – like a sewn-shut mouth, a red-lipped silhouette, pockets, or exposed zippers – communicate roles, gendered expression, speech or silence, social positions, and power dynamics. Each feature tells a story:
- Sewn lips = voicelessness
- Bold red lips = self-assured expression
- Pockets = discreet survival
- Zipper-like mouth = conditional speech (“you can speak, but better not”)
Ange‑Arthur Koua is a Ivorian visual artist, born in Abidjan in 1989, and he currently lives and works in his hometown. He holds a professional Master’s degree in Fine Arts with a specialization in painting. Koua originates from the Abobo commune and resides in N’Douci, Côte d’Ivoire.
ft/ “Wawô, les bleus de l’âme” at Galerie Olivier Waltman in Paris, Kate Zaniewska
