• SOMEWHERE IN MY MEMORIES

    PROSPER ALUU
  • LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery is proud to present the work of Prosper Aluu, a Nigerian artist whose distinctive style, Abfillage, merges abstraction, figuration, and collage. Through his technique, he integrates newspaper clippings and painted figures, weaving personal and collective narratives while subtly reinterpreting history. His signature elements—elongated forms, exaggerated proportions, and golden crowns—imbue his characters with dignity, resilience, and a celebration of African identity.

     

    During his recent residency at Villa Karo in Benin, Prosper expanded his practice by incorporating photography into his collages. This addition allows him to capture everyday life more spontaneously, while his recent works adopt a more minimal aesthetic, prioritizing storytelling over intricate detail. His compositions narrate scenes of fishermen at sea, the hum of motorbike rides, and the mystique of Zangbeto ceremonies in Grand-Popo.

     

    With exhibitions spanning Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, the UK, and the USA, and works in international collections, Prosper Aluu continues to push the boundaries and explores new avenues. His practice is a testament to the power of reinvention, where materials, symbols, and experiences converge to create a visual language both deeply personal and universally resonant.

     
     
    ARTSY
  • PART. 1

    THE MEMORIES...

    "These artworks, created during a recent residency program, mark a new frontier in my artistic journey as I strive to amalgamate abstract, figurative, and collage elements in an innovative approach I call "Abfillage". Incorporating photography captured during the residency, these works serve as a metaphorical diary, preserving memories and stories. By melding together distinct artistic styles, my aim is to not only express my personal experiences but to invite viewers on a journey of visual discovery."

    Prosper Aluu

  • PART. 2

    SPLASHES OF MEMORIES

    "Each artwork of the series 'Splashes of Memories' is a vibrant, abstracted celebration of particular moments and memories shared with my fellow artists during the residency. Colorful splashes and collaged fragments of photos, merge with elements of the subjects' portraits, interweaving their individual stories with my own. This blending of unique experiences through a unique, shared style creates a new understanding of our collective journey."

    Prosper Aluu

  • "In 'Splashes of Memories', each artwork is a vibrant, abstracted celebration of particular moments and memories shared with my fellow artists during the residency. Colorful splashes and collaged fragments of photos, merge with elements of the subjects' portraits, interweaving their individual stories with my own. This blending of unique experiences through a unique, shared style creates a new understanding of our collective journey."

    Prosper Aluu

  • ARTIST BIO

    PROSPER ALUU, NIGERIA
    ©Olabissi Bello

    PROSPER ALUU

    NIGERIA

    Born in Nigeria in 1999, Prosper Aluu studied architecture at the Owerri Federal University of Technology before choosing to become a visual artist.

    The artist incorporates Nigerian newspaper cuttings into his work to tell stories of the past while preserving the current narrative. His artistic style, which he calls "Abfillage" - a crossword made up of the words "abstract", "figure" and "collage" - consists in painting figures on partially coloured newspaper or magazine collages. By applying colour over the texts, he aims to soften some of the darker stories and events they contain. This technique allows him to preserve the written stories and highlight their effects in a figurative way.

    His figurative style is also characterised by the elongation and exaggeration of his characters' proportions, as well as by his distinctive depiction of Afro hairstyles. The golden crowns he paints on his figures' heads are intended to give them a particular nobility and dignity. Through his art, Prosper Aluu celebrates and explores his African identity.