SAADIO
Biography
To look at SAADIO's paintings, is like reading hieroglyphics. Magnificent, yet reserved for the initiated. Introduced by his family to the Peulh signs and the cosmogenic mysteries of the Dogon, this guardian of mysteries in turn uses symbols to express the evolution of the African society, the confrontation of traditional rituals in the heart of African contemporary society. These sacred elements are to be found in the mysterious presence of animals lost in an urban maze: hens, crocodiles, snakes, fish, a truly traditional symbolism at the core of a city that is alive, colourful, redolent, where thousands of people are on the move, whether by car, motorbike or walking, as planes fly overhead.
Read more about his biography
The African city, a city of signboardsDakar's walls speak, almost literally. There is an abundance of graffiti and billboards. The city is discovered by means of its walls. This colourful urban microcosm, these popular symbols are made prominent by SAADIO often in a nostalgic manner, like in his artwork titled “Kodak”, where he recovers the photographic studios of Dakar that worked in the past with Kodak film. SAADIO isolates the observed object and integrates it into a background of symbols painted like hieroglyphics.
The African city is also a city of tricksters, of odd jobs: salesmen pushing cell-phone credit, sellers of milky Nescafé coffee at breakfast, « La vache qui rit » cheese sellers, sellers of peanuts, of handkerchiefs, of biscuits with sesame seeds... The people manage; try their luck in the midst of this whirlwind of movement.
SAADIO, his beginnings … and in 2012 recognition
Following the production of a mural at the Sicap Baobab of Dakar in 1990, Saadio settles on Ngor Island in 1997. A regular visitor to the workshops of local artists, Saadio becomes the organiser of art festivals on the island. Tracked down by gallery owner Aude Minart in 2004, he participates in a group show at the «Galerie Africaine » in Paris. He also participates in numerous editions of the DAK’ART OFF in cooperation with Arte gallery, Horizon channel and Agora gallery. In 2008 the Ministry of Culture selects him to represent Senegal in the French Pavilion at the Exposición Universal in Zaragoza (Spain). From 2011 the artistic world began to discover his style and in that same year he participated in group exhibitions in Fribourg (Germany), on Gorée Island (Senegal) as part of the « Regards sur cours » art festival, was invited by the company Eiffage for its 85th anniversary and participated in the XEEX Art Festival at the Dakar city hall. It is however in 2012 with the « Y’en a marre » series, when Saadio gets involved with the mobilisation in favour of the new government of President Macky Sall and Minister of Culture Youssou N’Dour, that the art critics recognise his artistic value.
«CITY TRIP», SAADIO exports his style to Barcelona
For the exhibition «CITY TRIP», showing from the 8th of April to the 28th of May 2017 at the Out of Africa Gallery in Sitges (Barcelona), SAADIO has produced ten urban canvases that include symbols from other cities such as Paris, New York or Barcelona.
BIOGRAPHY
SAADIO, birth name Mamadou Sadio DIALLOBorn 2nd February 1965 in Dakar (Senegal)
Artist since 1990
Solo exhibitions
2019- "Taxi Bamako" - Bamako, Mali
2018
- "Taxi Bamako" - Bamako, Mali
2017
- CITY TRIP – Out of Africa Gallery – Sitges (Barcelona), Spain
- "Jungle urbans" - Mauro Petroni - Dakar, Senegal
2016
- Biennal Dak'Art OFF - Villa 126 - Dakar, Senegal
2015
- Zein'art Gallery - Nouakchott, Mauritania
- "Le parcours" - British Council - Dakar, Senegal
2014
- Alliance française - Ziguinchor, Senegal
- Biennal Dak'Art OFF - Villa 126, Senegal
2012
- DAK’ART OFF – Agency Senegambie – Dakar, Senegal
2007
- Koné & Pounder Space Gallery – Los Angeles, USA
- “Le constat”, Boribana Museum – Dakar, Senegal
Group Exhibitions
2019- Duo show "On the road again" - OOA Gallery - Barcelona, Spain
2018
- Duo show - Biennal Dak'Art - Villa 126 - Dakar, Senegal
2017
- "Dakar-Bamako" - Medina Gallery - Bamako, Mali
2015
- "Dakar Woman's Group" - Dakar, Senegal
- "Regards sur cour" - Gorée - Dakar, Senegal
2014
- “DAK’ART OFF”, Villa 126 – Dakar, Senegal
- "Dakar Woman's Group" - Dakar, Senegal
- "Regards sur cour" - Gorée - Dakar, Senegal
2013
- Festival “Regards sur cours”, Gorée Island, Senegal
2012
- «One night for Dakar» – Fine Arts School – Herzele, Belgium
- Dakar Women’s group – Dakar, Senegal
2011
- Festival « Joko » – Ngor Island, Senegal
- Festival « XEEX Art » – Dakar City Hall, Senegal
- 85th Anniversary exhibition of the company Eiffage – Dakar, Senegal
- « Regards sur cours » Festival – Gorée Island, Senegal
- Dakar Women’s group – Dakar, Senegal
- Fribourg, Germany
2010
- Fund raising exhibition in favour of the earthquake victims - Walu - Haiti
- Artistic get together with artists from Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, France, Economic Community of West African States, New African Initiative states, Bamako, Mali
- DAK’ART OFF – Agora Space – Dakar, Senegal
2009
- Dakar Women’s Group – Dakar, Senegal
2008
- Universal Exhibition – French Pavilion - Zargoza, Spain
- DAK’ART OFF – Horizon Chanel – Dakar, Senegal
- DAK’ART OFF – Arte Gallery – Dakar, Senegal
- Exhibition organized by Senegalese collector Pape Kame - Veneto, Italy
- Exhibition of the Plateau artists - FESMIR – Sorano – Dakar, Senegal
2007
- Dakar Women’s group – Dakar, Senegal
2006
- DAK’ART OFF - Ngor Island, Senegal
2004
- Galerie Africaine – Aude Minart – Paris, France
2002
- CAEDAS (Wives Committee of Accredited Diplomats in Senegal) – Dakar, Senegal
2002
- Bleu Gallery – Dakar, Senegal
1999
- International Fair of Young Artists – National Gallery – Dakar, Senegal
1994
- Blaise Diagne Cultural Centre – Dakar, Senegal
Others
2015- Creation of a mural on the Highway in Senegal - with the collaboration of Eiffage
- Jokko workshop - Ngor Island - Dakar, Senegal
2012
– Illustration for the book « La vie à Dakar »
1997
– Workshops on Ngor Island – Senegal
1990
– Mural in Sicap Baobab – Dakar, Senegal
Artworks for sale
