Babenga – Sacred Forest of Cameroon
Opening May 16, 2024
Cameroonian artist Jean Michel Dissake’s sculptural works use found and recycled materials to represent a balance between nature and technology by weaving natural objects such as wood, vines, termite dust, water hyacinths, and palm fronds together with computer boards, aluminum wire, license plates, and car parts. Informed by his cultural heritage as well as wisdom gained from living for nine years in the forest on the Mungo River, Dissake’s work invokes a dialogue on ecological and spiritual matters and speaks to timely issues of unity, peace, love, and oneness with nature.
Babenga refers both to the village where Dissake’s grandfather was the local king for over fifty years as well as the idea of the continuity of humans – a ceremonial invocation of a future land and new spirituality where humans and nature thrive. Dissake’s understanding and deep respect for the natural world imbue the works with symbolism that serves as a wakeup call to realize our connection with nature.
The upcoming exhibition at the Gregg Museum is being co-curated by Marriott Sheldon, a Raleigh artist and long-time curator of Dissake’s work, and Roger Manley, the recently-retired director of the Gregg. Manley points out that, although coincidental, the timing could hardly be more fortunate, for Dissake was very recently invited to participate in this year’s Venice Biennale, the world’s most prestigious art expo. “If it had been a year from now, the Gregg might not have been able to book a showing of this artist’s work,” Manley said. “I think he’s on the verge of becoming very well known internationally.”
Born in 1983 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where he lives and works, Dissake earned a degree in Economics from the University of Douala. But shortly after graduating, his life took a radical change of direction when he decided to dedicate all his time and energy to following his true calling as an artist. One with a deep feeling for the simultaneous vitality and fragility of nature.
Babenga – Sacred Forest of Cameroon
