10."Famakan Magassa: Soifs at Albertz Benda, New York"
Malian artist Famakan Magassa, age 24, makes his U.S. debut with his series “SOIFS,” or “thirsts,” the idea for which came to him while stuck in a traffic jam in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The paintings aren’t about a literal need for water—although that is a pressing issue in Mali—but about the many less tangible things that society teaches us to value, such as power and freedom. Inspired by the conflicting forces of 21st-century global culture and traditional ways of life in Mali, Magassa sees himself as a modern-day griot, a West Africa traveling poet, musician, and storyteller who guards the tradition of oral history.
Location: Albertz Benda, 515 West 26th Street, New York
Price: Free
Time: Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
