By Margot Lyttleton, year 10
The exhibition Poésie de couleurs et de matières by art teacher Momar Seck was displayed in LGB’s Centre des Arts from the 31st of January to the 1st of March 2022, focusing on the beautiful and wondrous elements of the sea. When observing the art, viewers saw specific types of fish, with the colours and shapes creating an influence on the painting. This series featured Dr. Seck’s signature elements of recycling materials and radiant colours. This exhibition also holds part of Dr. Seck’s teaching practice, as the layout was fully curated by the year 13 IB Visual Art students. The students organised the space, hung the artwork and curated the overall layout; part of their curatorial practice for the IB art exam, as the students will have to execute something similar using their own artworks.
The artwork
The focal point for Dr. Seck’s artwork is the environment and the idea of diversity. His paintings and sculptures are constructed from various pieces and recycled materials such as tissues, papers and cardboard. This is done with the intention of creating art using objects we encounter in our everyday life serving as a metaphor for diversity in the world and primarily Africa. His artwork is made using a bright colour palette and traditional symbolic african patterns. The variety of textures and colours make each piece a symbol for unity and diversity through one’s uniqueness. In the actual pieces themselves, viewers see many links to the environment such as trees, animals and birds.
Although he created multiple canvas-based artworks, Dr. Seck also specialises in sculptures. One of his most famous pieces is “Le Fagot de Bois”. These colourful pillars are made from a bundle of wood where various pieces become conjoint in the end. They are created with the intention of unity and diversity within African cultures, where elements intertwine in areas to become one beautifully curated piece. For Dr. Seck, the recycled materials, colours and pieces of wood represent the people of Africa and their unique culture. As of recently, he started painting them, which is what created a connection between sculptures and paintings.
Dr. Seck’s previous works
For the past seven years, Dr. Seck’s artwork has been linked with the environment and his vision of using recycled materials to create art. Up until recently, he was mostly focused on recycled materials, rather than elements from the natural world itself. In October 2020, Dr. Seck did an exhibition that was about sustainable development and the environment called 2.0. This exhibition was created with the message of landscapes, trees and animals – essentially everything which is important to help our environment. The name 2.0 was selected following his two previous exhibitions. Although Dr. Seck does not select specific names to his pieces such as “environment 1” and “environment 2”, he uses these numbers as an aim to keep track of his work. He does, however, name his series of works, which usually stem from the theme of the series, such as the popular United Colours Of Africa exhibition. This series focused primarily on the diversity and unity within African culture using textiles, patterns, and other symbolic elements native to Africa.
The influence of Africa
The most important part of Dr. Seck’s work is the contrast between the materials, such as that of wood and metal. In Africa, there is a limited amount of materials one can purchase, and it is with this intention that Dr. Seck started collecting elements to create art. Africa will always be represented in his works, whether it be with elements, colours or textiles. Dr. Seck showcases his identity and origins, which are celebrated through his art.
The creation of each piece
For Dr. Seck, the process of creating a piece is a flow of creativity. Although there is no definite plan behind each piece, Africa and nature always inspire him and nurture the urge to create. His art stems from a burst of inspiration that is plastered onto the canvas. For him, art is a necessity, and when his creative urges take over, the world is his canvas and the materials around him are his paint. While painting, his ideas and emotions come flowing out which is translated through his pieces. Art is a moment for him to destress and pour out his emotions into pieces; this is shown through Dr. Seck’s typically bubbly personality and bright colours in his works.
His inspiration to create art
Apart from his African heritage, visiting museums, beautiful landscapes, wandering in the city and different human interactions are all sources of inspiration for Dr. Seck. In addition, a substantial amount of his inspiration stems from his students, seeing others around him so full of inspiration and life inspires him himself to create. Sharing art with his students around him is a stimulation for him to create. Dr. Seck states that the world is a better place when people share their experiences and ideas, and this is where the concept of unity correlates in his artworks. In addition to his love of sharing experiences and interactions, this is where his love of teaching art roots to. As a result of this beautiful moral of unity, Dr. Seck is able to showcase his art around the world and with his students which to him puts the art in its rightful environment. When his art is shown in school he is able to have interactions and exchange with students, which to him is what his art is truly about. Dr. Seck is leading by example, showing his students what to do and helping them find their morals and passion in their own way. Due to his beautiful pieces and meanings, UNESCO awarded him for the theme of unity and promotion of art in 2004. The sense of unity is what pushes him to be alive and continue to create art.
