William Bakaïmo
Maroua, Cameroon
20 Works exhibited on Kooness
Current location
Douala
Represented by
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Works by William Bakaïmo
William Bakaimo is a talented Cameroonian artist known for his unique style and thought-provoking paintings. He was born in Maroua, Cameroon in 1988 and began drawing at the age of five. Bakaimo earned degrees in law, but his passion for art led him to pursue further studies in the field. He studied fine arts and painting at the Higher Institute of the Sahel, where he participated in various art workshops and earned recognition for his work.
Bakaimo's paintings blend warm colors with zoomorphic and chimerical characters to explore the struggles of individuals confronting their limits, fears, and demons in a challenging and corrupt world. His works suggest a blending of mythology and folklore to create a kind of animistic energy, inviting viewers to consider the presence of animals in us and us in them. Through his paintings, Bakaimo challenges us to confront our own limits and fears, inspiring curiosity and questions about the relationship between humans and the animistic world.
After completing his primary education, Bakaimo studied fundamental private law at the University of Ngaoundere, where he earned a license degree. He went on to earn a master's degree in business law at the same institution. Bakaimo then enrolled at the Higher Institute of the Sahel (ISS) in 2015, where he earned a degree in plastic art design engineering with a focus on fine arts and painting. He participated in several art workshops, including those organized by UNIFAC, where he was awarded second prize in the drawing category in 2012.
Bakaimo worked as an intern at the Alliance française de Garoua with the artist William Kayo before moving on to the IN AND OFF ART CENTER gallery to work with artist Hako Hankson. He also completed a residency at the MAM gallery under the direction of Simon Njami as part of the MOLESKINE foundation in Douala. During this time, Bakaimo was inspired by artists such as Joël Mpah-Dooh, Soly Cisse, Hervé Yamguen, and Tatcheda Patrick.
Bakaimo's early works, produced in 2017 and 2018, mark a pivotal time in his career, as he sought to break free from the academicism of his schooling and find his own artistic voice. Since then, Bakaimo has held numerous exhibitions both in Cameroon and abroad, showcasing his unique blend of warm colors and zoomorphic, chimerical characters.
Bakaimo's paintings explore the idea that humans, like lizards, must undergo a process of shedding their skin in order to grow and confront the challenges of life. His works show characters with animalistic features and suggest a blending of mythology and folklore to create a kind of animistic energy. Through these paintings, Bakaimo invites us to actively think about the myths and fables that shape our understanding of self and society, and to consider the extent to which they can guide us in apprehending personal and societal representations.
While Bakaimo's style may share similarities with other artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kudzanai Chiurai, the charge of his work is different. His paintings inspire curiosity and questions about the relationship between us and the animistic world of his paintings. Even when he depicts violence, it does not repel or revulse, but rather invites us to consider the presence of animals in us and us in them. Ultimately, the questions Bakaimo's work raises are the point, as they challenge us to confront our own limits and fears in a world that is ever-changing and challenging.
EDUCATION
Bachelor's degree in Plastic Arts Engineering from the Higher Institute of Sahel (ISS) in Maroua.
Academic internship at the In ans off art center. Hako Hanckson 2018.
Workshop at the MAM gallery as part of the Moleskine Foundation workshop led by Simon Njami 2017.
EXHIBITIONS
Collective exhibition "Vision" organized by the Delegation of Arts and Culture of the Extreme North of Cameroon. 2021.
Collective exhibition "Impulsion" at the French Cultural Center (CCF) in Yaoundé. 2021.
Collective exhibition "Group show" at the Claire Corcia gallery in Paris, France. 2021.
Collective exhibition at the Abidjan Art Fair in Abidjan. 2021.
Collective exhibition "Invisible Humanities" at the Annie Kadji Gallery in Douala. 2021.
Collective exhibition "Friendly Scenes" at the Maurice Renoma Apartment in Paris. 2021.
Collective exhibition "Abstraction" at the Douala'art Contemporary Art Space in Douala. 2020.
Collective exhibition "Nocturnal Metamorphoses" at Bolo Art and Culture Space in Douala. 2020.
Collective exhibition "The End" at Bolo Art and Culture Space in Douala. 2020.
Collective exhibition "Concorde" at Bolo Art and Culture Space in Douala. 2019.
Collective exhibition "The Kai" at the Annie Kadji Gallery in Douala. 2019.
Collective exhibition "Africa Now II" at the Claire Corcia gallery in Paris, France. 2018.
Collective exhibition at the Douala Art Fair in Douala. 2018.
Collective exhibition at the Lacryde gallery in Ex en Provence, France. 2018.
Second prize in drawing at UNIFAC. 2012.