Jean-Baptiste Ngnetchopa
Jean-Baptiste Ngnetchopa (born 1953) is a Cameroonian woodcarver. He achieved international attention from a series of banknotes from Africa carved in wood. He has appeared in international exhibitions and shows like Africa hoy in 1991.[1]
Background[edit]
Ngnetchopa was born to a family of traditional woodcarvers from a village of the Bamileke people in Cameroun.[2] At age 16, he entered into a seven-year apprenticeship.[3]
Ngnetchopa's work has evolved into an exploration of, "the relationship among art, power and money" that balances between the worlds of pop-culture and contemporary art.[4] His banknotes utilize black ink on the wood panels to highlight the carved and incised details.[5]
Ngnetchopa has said that, "Some rich people put their money in a vault. This money is dormant and loses value. I ask these rich people to surrender part of this money to me and I will carve them money of wood which they can live with and show to others. And this wooden money will also acquire value."[6][7][8]
Exhibitions[edit]
2011[edit]
- Art et Argent, liaisons dangereuses, Monnaie de Paris, Paris, France.
- Virtual exhibition (The Contemporary African Art Collection)
2001[edit]
- Platea dell’ Umanità – 49° Biennale di Venezia
- Giardini di Castello / Arsenale – Venice VE, Italy (The Contemporary African Art Collection)
1991[edit]
- Africa hoy
- Atlantic Center of Modern Art.
- Las Palmas Gran Canary - Spain. (The Contemporary African Art Collection)
References[edit]
- ^ (Oxford Art Online)
- ^ (Oxford Art Online)
- ^ (The Contemporary African Art Collection)
- ^ (Oxford Art Online)
- ^ Oxford Art Online
- ^ (The Contemporary African Art Collection)
- ^ Njami, Simon. "Ngnetchopa, Jean-Baptiste". Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ Pigozzi, Jean. "Jean-Baptiste Ngnetchopa". CAACart. The Contemporary African Art Collection. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
