How important is power to You?

Piniang hopes to raise awareness about the unequal distribution of power that affects many people in society. He conducts research in a poor suburb of Dakar where floods occur each year during the rainy season and where the government doesn’t take its responsibility to help the inhabitants.

He uses a variety of techniques; drawing, painting and collage. Buildings, animals, chairs, words and electric wires emerge as his work questions the city, with all its elements. They symbolise disorder and the lack of social responsibility shown by the Senegalese government.

“Chairs symbolize political power through which people are manipulated. Cables and plugs stand for electric power which we always lack in Dakar and it’s ironic; young people migrate to have the power to exist.”

Piniang (1976) lives and works in Dakar and has taken part in workshops and residency programs both locally and internationally. He has exhibited internationally including in Senegal, Denmark, France, Kenya, Senegal, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and the USA.

These works are part of an online pop-up exhibition of contemporary African art ‘What About You?’

If you are interested in buying one of the artists series, please mail rosalie@urbanafricans.com