Togolese self-taught visual artist Ras Sankara wins the Ellipse art project prize. Emerging artists living in Togo, as well as Togolese artists living in Africa, were invited to turn in their projects for this year’s edition for the theme ‘Dreamy Memory.’
Image courtesy of the artist
The Ellipse Prize is an art competition developed by ellipse art projects to highlight artistic creation on French territory, with each edition focusing on a different country. ellipse art project is a non-profit organization established in 2021 by the French company Ellipse Projects, which focuses on design and construction projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
The recipients of the first and second editions of the ellipse prize are Ibrahima Ndome (2021, Senegal) and Assoukrou Aké (2022, Ivory Coast). For this year’s prize, Ras Sankara was chosen among 5 finalists by an independent jury of contemporary art professionals including Togolese art scene specialists. From 54 application files, the finalists and winner was selected by a Franco-Togolese jury such as: Victoria Mann, founding director of AKAA- Also Known As Africa in Paris; Atelier Ati – Juliette Delecour and Kokou Ferdinand Makouvia, founders of the ArtMéssiamé artistic residency in Togo; Armelle Malvoisin, journalist specialist of the African contemporary art market; and Eric Wonanu, artist and curator. Alongside Ras Sankar, the other finalists are Parmenas Awudza, Clément Gbegno, Koffi Seble, and Thierry Tomety.
Ras Sankara (b. 1989) is also known as Kossi Aféli Agboka. The visual artist began his performance art in 2015. His body is the principal medium at the center of his practice. For the artist committed to the issues he champions, he believes that “killing the fear, resurrecting courage with optimism, through photography, installation, and performance” is critical. He emphasizes societal topics and raises arguments in order to elicit emotions and views from the public in an open environment familiar to all: the street.
Committed to promoting artists’ visibility and mobility, the ellipse art project will give the winner of the 2023 ellipse prize access to international networks. The winner’s art will also be exhibited in France at the AKAA – ALSO KNOWN AS AFRICA international art fair, which will be held from October 20 to 22, 2023. The expenses and logistics – visa, transport fees, housing, per diem and production grant according to the artist’s project- will be fully covered. There will also be a media campaign and tailored professional support for the winner.
The partners of this third edition are: AKAA, ALSO KNOWN AS AFRICA, Paris, Association Atelier Ati, Lomé, and Institut Français du Togo, Lomé.
