Benin

Artist: Otenia Chantal

Born: 1964 in the Vendée

In the beginning, her work was influenced by Dieudonné Oténia a famous painter from Benin. Being influenced by his work, she still manages to maintain a hint of Gauguin in her artwork. She uses the Chalk-Painting Method for this, which she employs to achieve an astounding level of precision as well as a work that is rich in colours.

She has been living in Berlin since 1999

Telephone: 0049(0)30 825 96 51

Interpretation

Benin appears as a cultural picture book, with its mosaic of ethnic groups and cultures. Weaving is only one of many crafts for which Benin is renowned. Various patterns of weaving can be seen on the bear, symbols of the kings, which illustrate the prestige of the old Dahomey (Danhomé). Dahomey: called Benin today.

The colour black is the colour of ebony, red the colour of mahogany, they are considered to be the most valuable types of wood native to Benin.

Benin is the cradle of "Voodoo." The Voodoo culture is still alive in the different ethnic groups of Benin. The term "Vodoun" means "God."

In Ouidah, center of the Voodoo culture, there is a celebration on the tenth of January every year. Historically, Ouidah was also one of the notable points from which slaves were shipped to America (the point of no return).

The bear has a Python around his neck. Pythons are bringers of fertility, power and also luck.

Otenia Chantal

Sponsor: Opel Hetzer GmbH & Co. Automobil KG