Discovering Benin Art at Paris' Conciergerie 🖤✨​​

​​Shocking Female Sculptures What started as a visit to the historic Conciergerie turned into an unexpected art revelation when I stumbled upon this breathtaking West African art exhibition 😳💫 First time learning about La République du Bénin - what a hidden gem!! 🇧🇯 About Benin: Landlocked West African nation with a long, narrow geography 60-year French colonization history makes French its official language 🇫🇷 Home to many African artists gathering in Paris' Montmartre district 🎨 🌀 The Voodoo Influence: As the birthplace of West Africa's ancient Voodoo ("god/spirit") tradition: Reverence for nature's cycles and feminine fertility 💃 "She" represents Mother Earth herself - source of all life 🌍 🎨 Must-See Masterpieces: 1️⃣ ​​Dominique Zinkpè's "Princess"​​ My absolute favorite 😍 Countless tiny figures standing on a woman's skirt, chest and head Powerful symbolism of motherhood's burdens and creative power Won LOEWE Craft Prize 2023 for "The Watchers" series 🏆 2️⃣ ​​Gérard Quenum's Recycled Dolls​​ Heart-wrenchingly beautiful 💔 Reclaimed dolls, wood and shells transformed into new narratives Each piece tells stories of African childhood, family and struggle Uses mortars, ritual drums and wooden pillars as bodies - each part tells a story 💭 Artistic Reflection: These works feel raw yet spiritual - like they've grown from the earth itself 🌱 Completely different from Western art languages I'm familiar with An eye-opening window into another world's soul Pro tip: Check for similar exhibitions at Musée du Quai Branly 🖼️ #AfricanArtRevolution #ParisArtDiscoveries #FemininePowerInArt #VoodooHeritage #ContemporarySculpture #ArtThatMovesYou #CulturalAwakening #BeninToParis #MuseumMoments #SoulfulArt