Flashmag January 2021 www.flashmag.net
Rodrigue Mbock
I'm the kind of human who always questions everything, but above all the kind of human who believes in a better world. That's my nature. This global pandemic seems to deprive us of everything essential, entrenchment, isolation, fear of lack, of the uncertain future, and of leaders who seem just as lost as us. What should we think? Conspiracy? Inclination to intensive yardage like sheep? Above all, I hope that there will be a collective awareness of what is essential, what we are ready to lose in order to gain better. But we all know from experience that being locked down in a cage, can make you more aggressive or more submissive. I would like to say that I am not afraid except that as soon as the bridle is released, the decadence is greater, what is the solution?
How do you live these periods of quarantine and social distancing? By taking refuge in creation?
I can't really say that I take refuge in creation since I take refuge there all the time, but my studio is closed for the courses I give. So, I am much more alone. I had planned to stop transmitting because I ran out of time to create, currently I'm just creating. It is pure happiness, sorry for my students!
Like everyone else, I suffer from this feeling of lack of freedom, from canceled trips in Africa, the islands, the United States. The projects with places of memory and museums are postponed, but until when? I think about it even more, I didn't know it was possible. (Laughs)
I am sorry for all those who have lost loved ones or who are themselves affected.
A New Year Begins Have you made some resolutions? if so which ones? How do you expect this year to be?
The novelty for me is that since October 2020 I’m represented by a gallery, La galerie Maron'Ages, in Lyon, France. It is not a classic gallery otherwise I would not have been interested (I don't like the feeling of being in a cage), but a humanist place. The gallery owner, collector discovered my creation and after acquiring a good number of them decided to open a gallery to represent me and four Afro-descendant painters. At the same time, he is my agent around the world. I could no longer manage everything, create, put together the files, so now it's a new way of interpreting the distribution of my creation.
I hope that my sculptures will further open the door to the United States, in private individuals and institutional places (I already have some pieces acquired by private collection). I currently model a Civil War slave soldier and a Buffalo soldier. The little-known story of Afro-descendants during this war. There is so much to do, I would like to work with all the states where slavery was important.
The last word, to all those who read us?
I would not stop myself, as a woman, in my time to "tell" this past of yesterday, too present today.
And it is through your eyes, you all, your sensitivity to my creation, and your sharing, that it comes to life.
Let us transform the chains of fetters into chains of human solidarity to make this world a better world, for us and our younger generations.
To pay homage to the ancestors without whom we would not be here today. They had the courage and the strength to believe. They overcame insurmountable trials. We are made of the same flesh and the same blood, we carry the energy within us, the roots.
WE ARE, so let's really be. So that every day counts.
Sandrine Plante Flashmag! and its readership say thank you for this sincere and cordial interview. Good continuation.
Interview By Hubert Marlin
Journalist
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Sandrine Plante
Sandrine Plante
Galerie Maron'Ages
Phone: + 33 06 43 78 22 16
Adresse: 6 - Rue Ferrachat 69005 Lyon - France
Sandrine.Sand
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