Hotegni Daniel Dansou
Hidden History
12 October – 9 November
Curated by Kevin Dalton Johnson
Finissage of the solo exposition ‘Hidden History‘ of Hotegni Daniel Dansou on 9th as from 16.00 H. an informal meet and greet with the artist until 19.00 H. Feel free to come to have a look at his beautiful works.
Hidden History – Hotegni Daniel Dansou
Hotegni Daniel Dansou, a visual artist born in 1986 in Benin, currently lives and works in Leiden, The Netherlands. His unique approach to art, influenced by his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Versailles, France, and his pursuit of philosophy and art education at the University of Paris Vincennes-Saint-Denis, sets him apart in the contemporary art scene.
The term ‘Kemet ‘, an ancient Egyptian word that means ‘the Blackness ‘, holds significant historical and cultural value. In Hotegni Daniel Dansou’s work, ‘Kemet’ represents a reclaiming of ancient Egyptian culture and a rejection of European interpretations of history. It emphasises the Blackness of the Egyptian people and the fertility of the land, aligning Dansou with the broader African diaspora and challenging obscured and distorted historical narratives about ancient Egypt.
The ancient Egyptians associated the colour Black with fertility because of the fertile Black soil left by the Nile’s flooding. This African kingdom thrived for three thousand years, starting around 2900 BC. Some musicians and artists use “Kemet” instead of “Egypt” to affirm their connection to the ancient culture and its origins in the African diaspora.
From influential figures like Miles Davis and John Coltrane to contemporary talents such as Pink Oculus and Zwart Licht, the museums in ‘Kemet’ exhibit the profound inspirational influence of African antiquity on modern musical genres like hip-hop, jazz, funk, soul, reggae, afrobeat, and R&B. This influence extends beyond musical value, as many Black artists, including Hotegni Daniel Dansou, draw empowerment from the often concealed, yet rich history of their ancestors.
Hotegni’s work explores his Black identity across various contexts, drawing from personal and global histories. His quest for identity involves meticulous archival and pictorial history research, employing diverse techniques to introduce and challenge new contemporary perspectives. He delves into hidden truths and revisits obscured histories, questioning the complexities of the human condition. Through his art, Hotegni captures the fragility and resilience of existence, representing the many facets of life and the human condition.
His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and is part of multiple private collections.”
