MEDI1TV Afrique : Mitsourisme et modernité : l’Artiste au cœur des vibrations contemporaines - 22/12/2024
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00:00Welcome to this new edition dedicated to contemporary art and the multiple facets of creativity.
00:19Today, we are exploring Mitsurism, this artistic current that captures the essence of modern vibrations,
00:25while cultivating its cultural roots.
00:28To talk about this, we have a special guest, Landry Fouaby Mitsu,
00:32a multidimensional artist who mixes with brilliance, music, painting and many other expressions
00:38between tradition and modernity.
00:41His work embodies a unique dialogue between past and present.
00:45Thank you, Landry Fouaby, for responding to our invitation.
00:50Can you briefly introduce yourself to our viewers?
00:54My name is Landry Fouaby Nano Mitsu.
00:59I am a musician, an Ivorian artist, and a painter.
01:04What is your background?
01:06My musical background is far-fetched.
01:11I started in 2011 or 2012, after the crisis.
01:17Then, I moved to France, where I studied music history.
01:24Then, I became a plastic artist.
01:31This part of me was revealed in 2022.
01:37It is true that I made works, but it was just for fun.
01:42It was in 2022 that I was able to open up to the world of plastic.
01:49If I have answered the question.
01:51You have answered.
01:53We find ourselves in contemporary art with a concept, the Mitsurism.
01:58What is it?
01:59The Mitsurism.
02:00I just wanted to pay homage to my father.
02:03He gave me the nickname Mitsu.
02:06Mitsu is Japanese.
02:08It means treasure.
02:10So, for me, I wanted to pay homage to my father through this gift that God gave me.
02:22It was important to connect Mitsu and contemporary art.
02:27The idea came from there.
02:29From the tribute I wanted to pay to my father.
02:34You decided to add Mitsu to music, but rather to contemporary art.
02:40Does this influence your work?
02:43Yes, it influences my work because I do everything to give quality to my work.
02:51Mitsu, treasure, quality work.
02:55I summarized.
02:58Your art is part of a dialogue between tradition and modernity.
03:04How do you find a balance?
03:06It is a preponderant question.
03:09Modernity tires my mind.
03:12For me, modernity dates back to ancient times.
03:19There is no modernity for me.
03:22For me, the history of humanity is modern since its creation.
03:27If you can answer the question, I will answer it better.
03:32Your art is part of a dialogue between tradition and modernity.
03:39How do you find a balance in all this Mitsurism?
03:46Yes, I try to find a balance.
03:50The message I want to convey is that all contemporary art currents
03:56that manifest themselves in this world
04:01must come together to give humanity this color.
04:10This image of joy, peace, responsibility, value.
04:16This mix is defined in my way of painting.
04:21Mitsurism is different from other currents we know.
04:26Yes, for me it is different.
04:28For me, it brings something valuable, something sunny.
04:33The other arts are beautiful, I don't stigmatize them.
04:39But I think that we Africans are powerful enough
04:46to create things that can touch our contemporaries, but differently.
04:54This is the path I am on.
04:58From this point of view, we must understand that Mitsurism
05:01is a certain valorization or claim of African cultural identity.
05:08Indeed.
05:10Last time I went on the internet, on Google,
05:15to look for the greatest painters of humanity.
05:19I didn't see black people.
05:21I saw Van Gogh, Picasso, lots of white people.
05:26Sorry, white people.
05:28But I don't agree.
05:30In this plural humanity, black people must be part of the history of painting.
05:40For me, this is the fight I am fighting,
05:43if I have answered the question in a strategic way.
05:46I want this African value to be in my works.
05:51A response to a certain challenge.
05:53Indeed, a challenge.
05:55But we will overcome it.
05:57We are going to take a short break.
06:00We are now heading to the 17th edition of Afrique Fashion Week,
06:04an event that celebrates the best of African fashion.
06:08Creators of talent in bold collections and strong moments
06:13were at the rendezvous of this 17th edition.
06:16Let's watch a few clips and we'll be right back.
06:27Afrique Fashion Week
06:57Afrique Fashion Week
07:27Afrique Fashion Week
07:58Afrique Fashion Week
08:03Afrique Fashion Week
08:08Afrique Fashion Week
08:13Afrique Fashion Week
08:18Afrique Fashion Week
08:23Afrique Fashion Week
08:29Afrique Fashion Week
08:39Afrique Fashion Week
08:52Afrique Fashion Week
08:57Here are the dance steps of Manadia from the group Magik System.
09:08I continue with Landry Fouabi, what technique or material do you prefer in your creations
09:16to translate this, I was going to say modernity, but hey, this claim.
09:23I use the basic elements, acrylic paint, I also use a knife,
09:32for those who are in painting, I also use glue, with recycled paper,
09:40to give a color, a little image.
09:44Do you sometimes use unexpected technical materials to express an idea?
09:50No, not really, but it happens sometimes, but it's rare, but not really.
09:57And in what state is Landry before producing a work?
10:01I'm in a normal state, yes, because I'm not going to go to a cave to get inspirations
10:10from a certain god of adventure, but I have to say that I take inspiration from my daily life,
10:16from my experience, I'm very busy, and I'm very busy,
10:22so it's in this calm that I receive my inspiration.
10:27And how much time on average do you devote to a creation?
10:31It all depends on the work, it's a bit like music, just a parenthesis.
10:36I'm in musical arrangements, and I can arrange an artist in 4 hours,
10:44or a single, or in 6 months, it depends on my inspiration.
10:49So in art it's the same, I can do a work in 5 days, or maybe in 3 months,
10:57or in 2 hours, it depends, my life is complicated.
11:02And what part of your work is inspired by your immediate environment, or your personal life?
11:08All my works, normally all my works, because it's representative,
11:12it's also represented in what I do, everyday life, people, community life, all my works.
11:23And these works reflect the contemporary vibrations of our society?
11:28Indeed, all these vibrations that govern us,
11:31and I think that those who have already seen my works can explain it more broadly.
11:41André has already exhibited somewhere.
11:45Indeed, I did my very first exhibition in Evda, here in Ivory Coast,
11:51I can say the name of the stage?
11:53Yes.
11:54In Cap-Sud-Marcory, in February 2024, yes, indeed.
12:01We did an exhibition for a month and a half, the theme was,
12:05when music paints, that's it.
12:07The musician side, the painter side, mixed, it was unprecedented.
12:12Very good. And how does your audience perceive, let's say, the Mitsurism in your work?
12:18Yes, the audience perceives it correctly, the audience perceives it well,
12:24they congratulate me, but at the same time they also give me a lot of ideas,
12:29to improve myself and to extend my art and everything.
12:33Hence this invitation on your stage, from a fan, I didn't say fan,
12:39but from a great lady who allowed me to be with you today,
12:43to talk about my art, so that's also the influence.
12:46So it allows me to move forward.
12:49Does each painting necessarily have a particular story, a conveyed message?
12:55Indeed, every work conveys a message.
12:58If there is no message in your work, your work is dead.
13:02And I, in all my works, I try to convey this message of love, of sun,
13:10of joy, of peace, of value, to those who follow me.
13:18So your art, let's say, does it have an educational or militant dimension?
13:26It is more educational than militant.
13:29Because education, for me, is the basis of all modernity.
13:36If we can use the word modernity now, it is our development.
13:40And so, in my eyes, I do everything so that those who see it
13:45can understand that our culture, our peoples, need more education.
13:54Education is not necessarily everything that is school,
13:57but the spirit must be educated.
14:01So, in my works, I educate the spirit.
14:04Could Mitzourism extend beyond visual arts,
14:09for example in fashion, or the music you also practice?
14:14Indeed, I am a palpable example of Mitzourism,
14:18at the moment, on this set.
14:21Because this shirt I am wearing is the Mitzour shirt,
14:26which is sold in Ivory Coast, and even in the world,
14:30which is also exported to Europe.
14:33So I do it myself, with acrylic paint.
14:37It's indelible.
14:39So my art is also exported to the world.
14:43And it suits me well, I like it.
14:45Is it well received by the population, the public?
14:48Indeed, there are a lot of orders.
14:51Especially the Mitzour shirts.
14:53There are a lot of orders, and it does me good.
14:57It gives me a lot of strength.
14:59I tell myself that people appreciate my work,
15:02they like what I do.
15:04And so, I give it to them in quality.
15:07Very good.
15:08And according to you, what is the role of the artist
15:11in a perpetual society, let's say, of evolution?
15:14The artist is a messenger.
15:17The artist is a spirit.
15:20The artist is a griot.
15:23The artist is fashion, the artist is life.
15:27So, as you say, our society needs the artists
15:34to manifest their emotions in their work.
15:39And I think it's going well.
15:42For me, I think art manifests itself well in our society.
15:46The artists do the work they need to do.
15:48Today, we are in the era of social networks, of new technology.
15:52Do they influence your practice in any way?
15:55Indeed, you said the era of social networks.
15:59If we were in 1994, we wouldn't be talking about social networks.
16:05This morning, I made a post to say that in the past years
16:08there were no photos that we posted.
16:10But today, if we have the opportunity to post, it's important.
16:13So, social networks play an important role in my visual actions, in my art.
16:22I'm on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
16:28I try to accommodate myself to this modern world.
16:35The modernity that you refuse, of course.
16:39So, with the permission of the director,
16:41can we see some works by Landry Foiby?
17:08Some pieces by Landry Foiby.
17:24Is this the latest or the penultimate collection?
17:27The penultimate collection.
17:29All these works are gone.
17:31So, I don't know if I can show you.
17:34The penultimate collection.
17:36All these works are gone.
17:38So, I don't know if I can show you.
17:40What are the targets of your works?
17:43All the layers are targeted.
17:46For me, there are no precise targets.
17:50I think everyone is...
17:52The human being is there.
17:54The human being is open to all of this.
17:57Because we want to stigmatize some parts of society
18:02concerning visual or contemporary arts.
18:05Otherwise, I target everyone.
18:09Is Landry Foiby working at the moment on a new collaboration or an exhibition?
18:16What are your projects?
18:18The projects are in mind.
18:22Not yet in reality.
18:24We are working on it.
18:26The writer says.
18:28The one who thinks about things finds happiness.
18:31So, we are thinking about the things to come.
18:36The projects are there.
18:38They are being refined.
18:41I think we will have another exhibition soon.
18:45It will be done.
18:47We will have beautiful colors.
18:48Indeed.
18:49Landry Foiby, do you think the artist has a political role
18:53or is he just an observer of the world?
18:58The artist has a political role.
19:01Because he is part of a state.
19:04And if things don't go well in the state,
19:09the artist has to manifest,
19:11to interact,
19:13to react,
19:15to give his opinion.
19:17If an artist is neutral,
19:19he is not in this world.
19:21He is in another world.
19:23We are in reality.
19:25And our culture asks us to speak up
19:28when things are not right.
19:31So, the artist has a political right.
19:35He has the right to speak.
19:37He has the right to say what is not right.
19:40How does music interfere in your creations?
19:48Music is not necessarily linked to my creations.
19:52Because I try to do both things.
19:55Between music and art.
19:57It is true that recently,
19:59in relation to my exhibition,
20:00I mixed the two.
20:01But they are two different worlds.
20:03So, I can't give a precise answer
20:08to this wonderful question.
20:11Very well.
20:12What would you like to say to young artists
20:16who aspire to express themselves
20:18through Mitsuri?
20:20I think they should have values.
20:24They should bring sunshine
20:30to everyone around them.
20:32I really like the word sunshine.
20:34I heard it in France,
20:36from a big brother.
20:38I really liked that word.
20:40Sun.
20:41We have to make music with sunshine.
20:43You see, our world needs sunshine.
20:45And all the artists who want to express themselves,
20:48the young talents who are coming,
20:50they should follow this path,
20:53the path of good values.
20:55So that our brothers, our sisters,
20:58our humanity,
21:00can have this vibrant,
21:04sunny, jovial side.
21:07But not negative.
21:09So, that's it.
21:11I think that's enough.
21:13Mitsuri is your concept.
21:16Do you intend to pass it on
21:18to future generations?
21:20Of course.
21:21Of course, there are people who will copy me
21:23in the future.
21:25I was talking earlier about the great pain of humanity.
21:28I said, why shouldn't there be black people
21:30among these great personalities?
21:33But I like Van Gogh.
21:36Because he has a certain texture in his works.
21:40So, I don't copy him,
21:43but I love him from afar.
21:45So, certainly, there are people who will say,
21:47I like Mitsu too.
21:49I will copy him.
21:51It will do me good,
21:54but I will already be underground.
21:56Maybe.
21:57Before being underground,
22:00do you intend to pass it on
22:03to these young people who aspire to be like you?
22:06Yes, if I have the opportunity to do so.
22:10If I have the opportunity.
22:12But, in truth,
22:14I will have to find a way.
22:18Because I am so into my music.
22:21And there too.
22:23So, find that.
22:25The training.
22:27You have to be very honest.
22:29When you look at the tour schedule in Europe,
22:32it's not easy.
22:34So, they will look at me from afar,
22:36as I look at Van Gogh from afar.
22:38And what do you want people to remember
22:40of what you do?
22:42I want them to remember
22:44that my work is a sunny work.
22:47You saw the eggs earlier.
22:50You saw the colors.
22:53They are not hot,
22:55quite hot,
22:57but warm.
22:59To communicate.
23:01So, I want people to remember
23:03these values of love,
23:06of peace, of joy, of tenderness,
23:09of humility,
23:11of simplicity.
23:13I like it.
23:14I want people to remember that in my eyes.
23:16Very good.
23:17Where can we admire your eyes,
23:19follow your artistic actuality?
23:22I'm on social media,
23:24which we talked about earlier.
23:26Instagram, it's Mitsou.
23:28Mitsou A.
23:30Facebook too, Mitsou A.
23:32And then Twitter too.
23:35These are the platforms where you can find me.
23:40Very good.
23:41We are practically at the end of our interview.
23:44Mitsou, one last word.
23:46Thank you to this wonderful channel
23:50that received us.
23:53Mediha TV.
23:56I am very grateful.
23:58And I ask everyone to follow me,
24:01to remember this name, Mitsou.
24:03There are many painters,
24:05great painters in this world of humans,
24:07but remember Mitsou.
24:10Very, very soon, I think it will happen.
24:13And after that, we can go into eternity.
24:16And it's successful.
24:18In any case, Landry x Bi Mitsou.
24:20Thank you for being on our show.
24:23You got it.
24:24We are at the end of this show.
24:26Thanks to the team in charge,
24:28Fares, Jean-Marc.
24:30See you next week for our number.
24:33And thank you to all those who followed us.
24:35The news continues on Mediha TV Africa.
24:46Mediha TV Africa