Romuald Hazoumé's Petrol-Fumed Art | reviews, news & interviews
Romuald Hazoumé's Petrol-Fumed Art
Romuald Hazoumé's Petrol-Fumed Art
African artist's potent transformations of gasoline canisters
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Romuald Hazoumé strolls into the October Gallery in London with the assurance of a man preceded by his reputation, and walks through a room lined with his large colour photographs, plastic masks, symbolic paintings on canvas, and a centrepiece installation featuring a group of four huge musical instruments constructed from cut-up petrol canisters. A strong, stocky 47-year-old wearing a comfortably loose boubou and wide trousers, he has every reason to be confident: this artist from Benin in West Africa, who carries round his neck a huge bunch of jangling, tinkling talismanic pendants which clearly work, is one of Africa’s most significant contemporary artists.
Romuald Hazoumé strolls into the October Gallery in London with the assurance of a man preceded by his reputation, and walks through a room lined with his large colour photographs, plastic masks, symbolic paintings on canvas, and a centrepiece installation featuring a group of four huge musical instruments constructed from cut-up petrol canisters. A strong, stocky 47-year-old wearing a comfortably loose boubou and wide trousers, he has every reason to be confident: this artist from Benin in West Africa, who carries round his neck a huge bunch of jangling, tinkling talismanic pendants which clearly work, is one of Africa’s most significant contemporary artists.
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
more
![Taylor Swift, Wembley Stadium, Saturday 22nd June 2024](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/tay%20header.jpeg?itok=X6Ly0O0S)
![It’s all relative: Theo Ogundipe and Tiwa Lade in ‘My Father’s Fable’.](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/fable1.jpg?itok=2S4sJgVz)
![Ruthlessly organised: Simone Signoret in 'Army of Shadows'](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/L--Armee-des-ombres-Photos-022PHOTO-jpgiii.jpg?itok=obTJMiE7)
![Ideal lovers: Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen as Cesare and Louise Alder as Cleopatra](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Cesare%201.jpeg?itok=3JdC7eMC)
![Kelly Clancy](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/kelly%20portrait.jpg?itok=Oe1dXxId)
![Chillin' with them old blues](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Peyroux_LetsWalk_Cover_03_3600x3600%20%281%29.jpg?itok=F2jUDM0f)
![The Cryin’ Shames, c. September 1966 in their final incarnation as Paul & Ritchie & The Crying Shames](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/The%20Cryin%E2%80%99%20Shames%20Do%20The%20Strum_the%20cryin%20shames_Header_1000.jpg?itok=Y75fI_xH)
![The statue of Smetana, born 200 years ago, presides over the main square of his native Litomyšl](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/1000021319.jpg?itok=j5ytrfbY)
!['What! They're gonna release it?' Russell Crowe as Anthony Miller](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Crowe%20MAIN.jpg?itok=Z6xznrXN)
![Allan Pettersson in action](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Allan%20P.jpg?itok=VoGrVIDE)
![](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Zara%20McFarlane%20Album%20Cover%20resize.jpg?itok=bOwUNyAa)
![Cruel intentions: Guards play human shuttlecock in Agnieszka Holland’s ‘Green Border’](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Green%20Border.jpg?itok=4bHlnH46)
Add comment