Thierry Oussou (Allad, 1988) presents a selection of ink, acrylic and oil-bar new works on paper, evidence of his interest in the subtle details and in common-place, everyday drawings, that highlight the universality of their approach as a shared visual language of expression.
In his most recent works on paper Thierry addresses the cotton plantations in Benin and the positive impact they have on the economic rise of the country. For this series he developed a complex investigation, firstly observing and collecting informations from the plantations located in the district of Paouignan in Benin, so essential for the relatively young economy of the country. Later he translated this very knowledge into drawing the portraits of the cotton workers, ultimate protagonists of this project. Through the use of several techniques and media, including the charbon de bois -a material coming from the plantation itself, Thierry Oussou offers us a glimpse into the contemporary Beninois society, opening up a conversation also about the current situation of pandemic crisis and how this is affecting the economic force that the country has built over the years.