Famakan Magassa born 1997, in Mali, Africa. Lives and works in Mali, Africa.

In his paintings Famakan Magassa moves skillfully between social satire and sensitive depiction of life situations, and interpersonal relationships. He deals with power relations, the pursuit of personal freedom, the need for connectedness, emotional turbulences and ambivalences.

The enigmatic, undulating figures that populate Magassa’s canvases are a direct allusion to the Kourédougas – mysterious ritual dancers. The Kourédougas are members of a non-religious community who follow a code of conduct and philosophy that emphasize wisdom, righteousness, and humility. These are values and ideals that also have a special meaning for Famakan Magassa. Externally, the Kourédougas can be recognised by their festive and extravagant attire of hats, feathers, objects and jewellry, which they use to express their sense of dignity and beauty.