G.NEA

Born in 1982 in Bingerville, Côte d'Ivoire, G.NEA whose real name is Emile Gbede, immersed himself in art from CE1 class, learning to sculpt with sculptor artists, working from time to time with them on certain monuments of the country. He was later admitted to the competition of the Technical Center for Applied Arts in Bingerville where he obtained his Artistic Technician Certificate.

G.NEA mainly finds its inspiration in the conflicts in Ivory Coast and in the World.

"The essence of my work was built initially with the world in which we live, with all these wars as a matrix. I am also inspired by the meaning of the weights to weigh gold and more particularly the symbolism resulting from the practice of this ancient art, I seek to draw from the ancient art of the world, therefore, beyond the expression of plastic forms and aesthetics, all of these elements in a metaphysical approach. I go back to my past, to rediscover and understand the present and project myself into the future. I practice a "smooth sculpted painting", it is a way of reclaiming a past practice, which has already existed; it calls on the ancient Egyptian art, especially that of Africa.

Tapestry, Painting, Sculpture are often found in our homes. I start from the use of chain thread, commonly called "nago thread", plaster, garden paper and symbols that can give viewers the impression of being faced with the "mystical-religious" world. My work dives beyond a simple mystical approach by opening a reflection, a breach on the relations of the world (war, famine, violence etc.), aesthetic creation and also the cultural foundations.

I could describe my work as a question mark for the world and a semblance of a solution to the question posed by GAUGUIN's work "Who are we, where do we come from, where are we going".

Today, I am one of the promoters of PRAIA Brush of Street of International Arts of Abidjan."

Exhibitions:

2022: Exhibition Off at the Dakar Biennale with Ateliers Sahm, Salon des Grandes Cimaises exhibition in Abidjan at the SOPI residence.

2021: Exhibition Off BISO "WILIKADJO" at the Kanudya Gallery, Exhibition of the Grandes Cimaises d'Abidjan at the SOPI residence.

2019: Exhibition at the Espace Louis Delgrès in Nantes-France.