Malian art isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the first tier of international art galleries so it was heartening to see that Blain|Southern launched their New York gallery with this show by Abdoulaye Konate.
Working in readily available local textiles, much easier to source than paints, he creates massive stitched pieces as both celebration, commentary and commemoration (see his Lutte Contre Le HIV below)
The desired colours are achieved by dyeing and stitching, demonstrating again that fabric is as valid a means for expression as paint and canvas.
Coming as I do from a mixed Media background I couldn’t agree more.