Aboudia

Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, often known as Aboudia, captures the street scene in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire's capital. Aboudia's vivid, large-scale mixed-media paintings and drawings, which are reminiscent of Jean-Michel Basquiat's, draw inspiration from graffiti and traditional African carvings. He has depicted youngsters in his city's most dangerous neighbourhoods, as well as the violent post-election unrest that engulfed Abidjan in 2011. While his reoccurring skull, soldier, and bullet motifs represent unimaginable horror and brutality, Aboudia's vibrant colour palettes emphasise the children's everlasting innocence throughout the mayhem. Aboudia has had numerous exhibitions in Côte d'Ivoire, as well as London, Paris, New York, and Marrakesh. The Saatchi Gallery and the Jean Pigozzi Collection have acquired his art.