Focus on the series “The Essential is invisible to the eyes ! “: 3 questions to Ishola Akpo
Ishola Akpo documented the gifts received by her grandmother during her dowry. These assets that she has preserved have crystallized around her memories, her identity as a wife, to tell stories of her life as a woman.
The artist’s approach is at the border between photographic documentary and contemporary art. Indeed, it emphasizes this tradition of dowry that continues today in some parts of the world. This step, carried out before the institution of marriage, is seen as a rite that involves the two families of the bride and groom who accept and lovingly accompany this union. Through these gifts, it is the life of the future spouses that is built and begins.
How did Ishola Akpo think about and design this art project ? How did her grandmother approach her grandson’s work ? Answers from the artist.
Virginie Ehonian : Ishola Akpo, for your series L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux (2014) you have chosen your grandmother as your model for this first part of the series on the theme of dowry. How did your collaboration go ? How did she react to your invitation? To your project ? What was the element that inspired this photographic series ?
Ishola Akpo : In fact, it was my grandmother who asked me to photograph her; she wanted to have a picture of her that would accompany her testament. I thought it was time to immortalize her, tell her stories and keep a trace of her in the family memory. At first, I started with a conversation with her, so I asked her to tell me more about my deceased grandfather that I didn’t have the chance to know and tell me their wedding story. She began by talking to me about her attachment to what remains as objects of her dowry, how much these bring her joy at the same time anguish. This is how I became interested in photographing these objects, which are the poetic evocation of a real and essential time: my grandmother’s wedding and her life with my grandfather, who has now disappeared.
Virginie Ehonian : The dowry plays an important role in the institution of marriage in many countries on the African continent. What about Benin, your country of origin ? How do you view the dowry, considering that you have lived in different countries ?
Ishola Akpo : The dowry is the traditional foundation of marriage. It is an institution charged with the stories of a century-old tradition, with all its principles and rules. But this tradition is gradually losing its symbolic meaning for marriage. For some families, in some cases, this has even become a form of personal enrichment. Some parents of future wives use it to extort money from suitors for marriage. Like it or not, the marriages of the future on the African continent are between tradition and modernity and will change the individual and collective stories that are told there. Fortunately, there are still families who adhere to the old practice of the bride price.
Virginie Ehonian : Is your grandmother Dossi honoured for the first part of this series ? What follow-up do you want to do to L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux ?
Ishola Akpo : The follow-up I would like to give to this project would be to continue by showing this work which is a subjective and invisible experience.
Interview by Virginie Ehonian.
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Content editor for africanlinks.net; Founder of Nooru Box. Particularly sensitive to contemporary art, her interests converge towards new ways of promoting the different African heritages, between heritage and modernity.
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In addition to this :
Ishola Akpo Lives and works in Cotonou, Benin
Photo credit © Ishola Akpo, L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux (2014)
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