AFRICAN VOODOO

An old ‘Religion’ still lively

Since 1994, the Foundation Cartier, housed in an airy building filled with light designed by the architect Jean Nouvel, gives a chance to exhibitions, conferences and artistic productions to come to life. At once a creative space for artists and a place where art and the general public can meet, ‘the Foundation Cartier pour l’art contemporain’ is dedicated to promoting and raising public awareness of contemporary art. Each year, the Foundation Cartier organizes a program of exhibitions based on either individual artists or themes. These last months are dedicated to African Voodoo. This exhibition, the first major one devoted to the West African sculptural tradition of Bocio (empowered cadaver), shows some rare pieces of Vodun Art, found by Jacques Kerchache in Africa, especially in Benin and Togo. One can discover and feel the voodoo cosmology, its gods and spirits, beliefs throughout one hundred sculptures.

The latest are presented in a simple and intimate scenography, conceived by Enzo Mari, which allows us to admire this art work in its nudity and feel its powerful spiritual meaning. In the first room, at the entrance, the biggest statuettes stood firm in front of wooden houses, as if they were welcoming us into their invisible world. Then, one has to go down the second space. Under the stairs…In a large black room, we are conveyed to discover little pieces of Vodun Art under a tiny light: 48 black high columns for 48 little sculptures. Each of them isolated from the other under a cube of glass to feel closer to these little objects and admire quietly their impressive details.

The third room is dedicated to the ‘chariot of death’, emerging from the dark, surrounded by two other large columns with other voodoo pieces. When one enters this room, one can be trapped by a strange feeling, discovering this big piece in its amazing beauty, under ghostly yellow lights. Another sculpture attracts us: the one with the wooden wings catches our attention, as if it was a protective angel from all human diseases… Then, the curious ones can have a look on the documentary made by Kerchache during his search… but this documentary is not so thrilling, too close to the preconceived ideas one can have about voodoo. And we advice the visitor to read the book of the exhibition: the meanings of the sculptures are explained in a very simple and pedagogic way.

We can learn that the bondage on some Bocio is a way to overcome some troubles and the bondage – cords or feathers- has a specific meaning according where it is placed on the sculpture. The piercing of the Bocio – the power of the statuette is activated with an incantation- appears to affect some part of the body in order to cure or hurt someone. Many Bocio got some deformities to protect some places – temples, houses…- or some people – pregnant women- from bad things. They are not only used to sorcery purposes. On the contrary, they appear to be part of ordinary life and beliefs. These sculptures are like ‘gifts’ to the divine spirits whom people ask protection against injuries, diseases or death….

The interest of the exhibition lies in the fact that the voodoo religion -or philosophy? –  is introduced on its spiritual side. One can see that the voodoo cannot be reduced to witchcraft, bad spells and trances or folkloric habits. With its prayers and sculptures, sacrifice and divination, it is a way to communicate with the invisible world and the Vodun, ‘messenger of the invisible’, appears to help people to remain calm whatever happens in one’s life. And isn’t it the aim of any religion? Reassuring people and making them feel quieter in their life. DVDM