angèle etoundi essamba
Angèle Etoundi Essamba was born in Douala, Cameroon, educated in France and she graduated from the School of Photography of Amsterdam where she lives. Since her first exhibition in 1985 in Amsterdam, her work has continued to be exhibited in museums, institutions, art fairs, biennales and galleries in Africa, Europe, the United States, Latin America, Arab Emirates and Asia.
Essamba's work lies at the intersection of the social/gender and the artistic field. She uses photography to bring her message across in a creative way. Her varied background and various travels have not only profoundly shaped her eye, but also mean her outlook is equally aesthetic, idealistic, realistic, and societal. Therefore, she joins the spirit of humanistic photography with a strong attachment to the values of communion. Women constitute the main subject of her artistic expression. She is a committed artist involved in a reflection on the identity of the African woman. She records in an aesthetic way a vision on African women and African culture, giving a new interpretation of contemporary Africa. In her work, she challenges and breaks with stereotypical representations of women, by giving her subjects meaning and greatness. Keywords for Essamba’s work are pride, strength and awareness. She focuses exclusively on what the human radiates, whether alone, as a couple or as a group. Her approach is always based on a sense of proximity, reciprocity. In this universe that is hers alone, she controls color with the same artistry as black and white, she masters contrast with a sure touch and handles shadows and lights with dexterity and audacity.
Essamba’s photographs have been commented in various publications and books among which: Passion1989, Contrasts1995, Symboles1999, Noirs 2001, La Métamorphose du sublime 2003, Dialogues 2006, Voiles & Dévoilements 2008, Africa rising2010, As it is 2010, Africa see you, see me 2011, Black & Red 2012, Women of the water2013, Invisible 2015, Strength & Pride, 2016; Daughters of life 2018, Renaissance 2019.
Doyle Wham is delighted to represent Angèle Etoundi Essamba’s vintage prints collection: one-of-a-kind silver gelatin photographs hand-printed by the artist between 1986 and 2005.
For all enquiries, please contact hello@doylewham.com.
