Bili Bidjocka
Encyclopedia
Bili Bidjocka is a contemporary Cameroon
ian artist best known for his installations and sculptures. He was born in Douala
, Cameroon
, lives in France since the age of 12, and works in Paris
, Brussels
and New York
.
(1997), Havana
(1997), Biennale Dakar (2000), Taipei
(2004) and Venice Biennale
(inside Check List - Luanda Pop, 2007 curated by Fernando Alvim and Simon Njami
); he has exhibited his works in the New Museum of Contemporary Art
of New York
and in the exposition Africa Remix (Düsseldorf
, London
, Paris
, Tokyo
, Johannesburg
, 2005–2007). He founded and directed the contemporary Art Center Matrix Art Project in Brussels
.
It consist of a series of books with 6000 white pages, 104 cm long and 100 kg. The artist declares that the public is invited to write - as it was the last thing to do before the cut of a hand. The founder act is the writing act in itself and not the reading after. Each book, once done, is packed into a linen material. The idea is that these books will be opened in the day where writing will not exist anymore.
There is now existing 7 books of the work; one participated at the Venice Biennale
inside the exhibition Check List - Luanda Pop.
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian artist best known for his installations and sculptures. He was born in Douala
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country...
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, lives in France since the age of 12, and works in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Biography
Bili Bidjocka has attended numerous collectives and he has shown in the Biennale of JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
(1997), Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
(1997), Biennale Dakar (2000), Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
(2004) and Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
(inside Check List - Luanda Pop, 2007 curated by Fernando Alvim and Simon Njami
Simon Njami
Simon Njami is an independent lecturer, art critic, novelist and essayist. He lives in France, and has Cameroonian roots....
); he has exhibited his works in the New Museum of Contemporary Art
New Museum of Contemporary Art
The New Museum, founded in 1977 by Marcia Tucker, is the only museum in New York City exclusively devoted to presenting contemporary art from around the world...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and in the exposition Africa Remix (Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, 2005–2007). He founded and directed the contemporary Art Center Matrix Art Project in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
L'écriture infinie
L'écriture infinie is a work of Bili Bidjocka. It aims to write the biggest collection of handwritten books of the world, because the new technologies causes the progressive extinction and replaces the handwritten writing because .It consist of a series of books with 6000 white pages, 104 cm long and 100 kg. The artist declares that the public is invited to write - as it was the last thing to do before the cut of a hand. The founder act is the writing act in itself and not the reading after. Each book, once done, is packed into a linen material. The idea is that these books will be opened in the day where writing will not exist anymore.
There is now existing 7 books of the work; one participated at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
inside the exhibition Check List - Luanda Pop.
Exhibitions
- DetourIstanbul, 2009
- Detour, Paris and BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, 2008 - Check List, Venice BiennaleVenice BiennaleThe Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, 2007 - Exhibition 02 - Collective exhibition, Exit11, Grand-Leez, 2007
- 3. Echigo-Tsumari Art TriennialEchigo-Tsumari Art TriennialThe Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial is an international modern art festival held once every three years in the Niigata prefecture, Japan. It was first held in 2000 for a "grand" two-month exhibition in "communities, rice fields, vacant houses, and closed schools across a 760 square kilometer region."...
2006, Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial, Niigata-ken, 2006 - Africa Remix - Contemporary Art of a Continent, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2006
- EXHIBITION 00, Exit11, Grand-Leez, 2006
- Tapei Biennial 2004 - Do you believe in reality?, Taipei Biennial, Taïpeh, 2004
- El Corazón de las Tinieblas, Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (CAAM), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 2004
- Black President - The Art and Legacy of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, New Museum of Contemporary ArtNew Museum of Contemporary ArtThe New Museum, founded in 1977 by Marcia Tucker, is the only museum in New York City exclusively devoted to presenting contemporary art from around the world...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, 2003 - Transferts, Palais des Beaux Arts, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 2003 - Memórias Íntimas Marcas, MuHKA Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen, Antwerp, 2000
- Bili Bidjocka: Reflection, Objectif, Hal, Antwerp, 2000
- Paris pour escale, ARC musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, 2000
- Dak'Art 2000, Biennale of Dakar, DakarDakarDakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, 2000 - Free Coke, The Greene Naftali Gallery, New York, 1999
- Bili Bidjocka, Los Carpinteros and Rivane Neuenschwander, New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York, 1998
- Bili Bidjocka: Crossing, USF Contemporary Museum, Tampa, USA, 1998
- Alternating Currents, Second Biennale of Johannesburg, JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, 1997 - 6 Biennale dell'Avana, La Havana, 1997