Bamako Art Gallery

Dramane Toloba

Born in Bamako in 1990, Dramane is a visual artist and sculptor working and residing in the same city. He graduated from the Balla Fasséké Kouyaté Conservatory of Arts and Multimedia Crafts and is also a member of the Tim 'Arts collective.

Biography

His artistic vocation emerged at a young age, when, passionate about drawing, he spent his time reproducing comic strips that he had at hand. After a brief experience at university, he ultimately chose the arts, successfully passing the Conservatory entrance exam.The overcrowded environment filled with diverse objects in Bamako shaped his choice of artistic materials. Dramane has a strong inclination for upcycling and recycling, using everything he finds around him. Textiles, especially wax fabric, hold a central place in his work, as they represent a fundamental part of African identity, while also symbolizing cultural diversity.Deeply engaged, Dramane tackles contemporary issues in his art, such as:

climate change,
technological evolution,
the role of humans in our world,
the challenges faced by women in our societies,
and issues of poor governance.

However, beyond his engagement, Dramane expresses a need for escapism. He explores the harmony of colors as a means to transcend daily reality. For him, this harmony serves as a gateway to another world, allowing him to overcome often harsh realities and pave the way for a more optimistic vision.Dramane’s art, fueled by his sensitivity to contemporary challenges and his need for escape, stimulates reflection while offering a refuge, where colors and shapes create a space for evasion and the contemplation of an elsewhere. His work, blending commitment and aesthetic exploration, invites introspection on the challenges of our time, while offering a vision of a world imbued with color and optimism.