Lot 95: Julien Sinzogan (Beninese, born 1957) Ronde d'Egungun - Passage du Milleiu II 36 1/4 x 36 5/8in (92 x 93cm)

Ronde d'Egungun - Passage du Milleiu II
signed 'Sinzogan' (lower right)
colored inks on paper (in two pieces)
36 1/4 x 36 5/8in (92 x 93cm)

Julien Sinzogan was born in the Republic of Benin, once one of the largest slave-trading ports on the West African coast. The Yoruba people of Benin and Nigeria believe life takes a cyclical trajectory through which individuals experience the tangible world (aye), depart to the spirit world (orun) and are reborn. The voyages between such realms lie at the heart of religious practice across much of the Atlantic world.

Julien Sinzogan lives and works in Paris. After studying architecture in Tashkent and then in Paris, he now devotes his time to drawing and painting. He often combines monochrome drawing with colored forms which draw upon the sources of vodun and history in Benin. A special commission made for Uncomfortable Truths: the shadow of slave trading on contemporary art and design showed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2007 and his work featured in the Voyages exhibition at October Gallery.

We are grateful to the October Gallery for their assistance in cataloging this lot.