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After a fantastic fashion show of the CHANEL Métiers d’art 2022/23 collection, presented on 6 December 2022 in Dakar, Senegal, le19M is taking a new step by launching its first international programme there. While the influence of Dakaris recognized on the global cultural and creative scene, the entire country of Senegal is replete with artisanal expertise, a heritage to which le19M is particularly sensitive. Thus, from Thursday 12 January 2023 and for several months, le19M is setting up an off-site gallery in Dakar with the help of the Institut fondamental d’Afrique noire (IFAN) on the site of the Musée Théodore-Monod d’art africain.
la Galerie du 19M Dakar: a story of embroidery and weaving crafts
“The opening of la Galerie du 19M Dakar will celebrate the richness of craftsmanship. Entitled” Sur le fil” (On the thread in French), the programme will showcase a beautiful story of embroidery and weaving crafts combined with other artistic disciplines like painting, photography and installations. The main goal is to highlight the creative wealth of Senegal and the humanistic values of its arts and crafts. “The opening of la Galerie du 19M Dakar will celebrate the richness of craftsmanship. Entitled “Sur le fil” (On the thread in French), the programme will showcase a beautiful story of embroidery and weaving crafts combined with other artistic disciplines like painting, photography and installations. The main goal is to highlight the creative wealth of Senegal and the humanistic values of its arts and crafts.
During the exhibition, visitors will discover numerous contemporary artists working with textiles, some of which collaborate with le19 M’s Maisons d’art. This exhibition will be presented parallel to heritage pieces from the Musée Théodore-Monod d’Art Africain collections.
Several artisans will be producing and showcasing their Art in front of the audience in live conditions. This will lead to participatory workshops led by guest artists in residence.
la Galerie du 19M Dakar: Showcase priceless artisanal skills
la Galerie du 19M Dakar is the guest of honour of the 11th edition of Partcours. It is an annual cultural event that brings together 30 spaces of both Art and craft in Dakar during the first two weeks of December. Created in 2012 by RAW Material Company and Atelier Céramiques Almadies, Partcours is a synergistic event which brings together gallery owners, artists, and the public, inviting them to discover Dakar’s different districts in a new light.
The aim of la Galerie du 19M Dakar is to showcase priceless artisanal skills to the broadest possible audience, to reassert the value of handicrafts, to encourage their dissemination, and to spark vocation among the general public, school children, students, families, and lovers of craft. The gallery’s programme was conceived by an editorial committee composed of Senegalese creative figures or experts in its art scene. This committee is also accompanied by artistic contributors.
“The launch of la Galerie du 19M Dakar coincides, almost to the day, withthe first anniversary of the inauguration of la Galerie du 19M in Paris /Aubervilliers and its opening to the public. This first international programme speaks to the renewed interest of professionals in fashion savoir-faire—supported for nearly forty years by CHANEL—as well as to a new popular fervour for handicrafts.”
Bruno Pavlovsky, President of CHANEL SAS and President of le19M
- Cultural programme: Riad Fakhri
- Curator: Olivia Marsaud, El Hadji Malick Ndiaye
- Designer & Filmmaker: Selly Raby Kane
- Graphic Designer: Audrey d’Erneville
- Designer: Bibi Seck
- Architect: Mamy Tall
Africa can be entered through Dakar. It is a true gateway to the continent. The Atlantic Ocean encircles it on three sides as it protrudes into it. It is closer to Lisbon than Cape Town and the most westerly point on the continent. Dakar’s creativity is in its genes. Everybody has a particular relationship with Art. It is everywhere, and we can say that Senegal is a fantastic place connecting Art and craftsmanship. With this exciting initiative, le19M opens a new window to creativity. This exhibition is worth visiting if you are travelling to Dakar in the new year.
José Amorim
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.
