The Senegal Research and Documentation Center (CRDS, ex-IFAN) will house, from May 3 to June 3, 2025, the 11th edition of the artistic routes of Saint-Louis. For a month, the three -year -old city will vibrate to the rhythm of an international exhibition of visual arts. This event, inscribed in the Senegalese cultural calendar, is one of the flagship cultural activities of the city of Mame Coumba Bang. The artistic routes of Saint-Louis are organized by the association “Ndar Création”, led by the visual artist Abdoukarim Fall.
The initiator of the artistic routes of Saint-Louis was born in 1982 in the famous and mythical district of fishermen of Saint-Louis, Watch Ndar. Very early stung by the art virus, Abdoukarim Fall did not focus on the school benches. He just had to frequent schools Léontine Gracianet and Clédor Ndiaye de Saint-Louis before leaving to live his dream of an artist. The dreams of the head, the young artist begins to train on his own by making drawings. He touched the brush for the first time in 1996, during a workshop organized at the Senegal Research and Documentation Center (CRDS). “It has made CRDS a site that means a lot for me. I made my debut in painting there. A Mexican had organized a workshop in June 1996 and I participated, it strengthened my desire to practice art, ”says Fall. In 1998, he joined the “spider” workshops of Baye Mouké Traoré, the latter was the winner, in 1996, of the Grand Prix of the Head of State for the Arts. In these workshops, Abdoukarim Fall introduces himself to the work of the teacher better known as the tapestry and participates in other artistic activities such as “the talibés of Mame Coumba Bang”.
Prodigy
In 2001, Fall acquired enough luggage on the practice of painting. His love for this discipline continues to grow. He then decides to devote himself entirely. It was in 2003 that he made his first individual exhibition at the French cultural center in Saint-Louis. From there, the young native of Saint-Louis begins to fully experience his art. The same year, he represented Saint-Louis at Fesnac and participated in different editions of the Dakar Biennale. In 2008, the young Saint-Louis artist won the painting competition organized by the Cuemo Foundation, now the main partner of the artistic routes. It is selected with 9 other artists to go to Monaco. Abdoukarim Fall is one of the three best award -winning artists. He also participated in the National Fair of Plastic Arts at the National Gallery. He is particularly illustrated with his exhibition entitled “Rêveries of a river”. In 2008, the young prodigy of Guet Ndar is still talked about through his exhibition entitled “Let us save heritage”. In his hometown, the young artist deplores a lack of organization of the actors to better experience their art. He then set up the association “Ndar Création”.
An association which brings together around twenty members and is responsible for promoting art and culture in the northern region of Senegal and in the rest of the world. “It was for us to better organize and structure the sector here in Saint-Louis to earn more recognition and respect,” he explained. For Abdoukarim Fall, Saint-Louis, land of culture, history and heritage, must occupy a place of choice in the arts sector. It must be, according to the ambient, a frame that allows artists to flourish, to express themselves. Thus, through his association, he initiated the artistic routes of Saint-Louis in 2013, an exhibition of visual arts. The artist thus wants to reposition Saint-Louis at the center of art, culture. “The idea of artistic routes came to me after two participations in the National Fair of Plastic Arts and Biennials. I noticed that everything was done in Dakar, ”said the plastic artist. Way, he said to himself why not set up something in Saint-Louis who allows artists to find themselves. Saint-Louis, Note A. Fall, is classified as World Heritage, it is the first capital of Senegal, “it must therefore play an important role in the culture sector.
This is why we have set up this exhibition ”. Since 2013, artistic routes have been on their way. Today, this exhibition has positioned itself as one of the major events in the Tricentennial City. The activity has had difficult beginnings linked to the lack of support, but its initiator is delighted that today it crosses borders and attracts more and more artists and people of the art world. “Now we are launching calls for candidates for participation in routes. We receive so many files that we are forced to make a selection. The candidates come to us everywhere, ”says Fall. The event is marked by visual arts training, workshops workshops, exhibitions and the development of artistic disciplines such as painting, photography, sculpture, mosaic, design and digital art. The last edition saw the participation of 200 artists from Senegal and other corners of the world and the exhibition of 500 works, 89 of which were sold.
The child in the district nestled between the Senegal river and the Atlantic Ocean wants through this event to provide young artists with a framework to express their talent. “Through the workshops, we train young people in painting, we also support young artists in obtaining equipment and this allows young people to rub shoulders with great artists to share with them. The exhibition also makes it possible to show their creations and sell paintings, ”notes the artist. Today, Abdoukarim Fall’s dream is to provide Saint-Louis with a space specific to Saint-Louis artists, but also allow young talents to carry out individual and international exhibitions. Ambitions of difficulties, the artist still encounters in it, they are linked to the lack of dedicated structures, the unavailability of equipment in Saint-Louis. He pleads for more support for young artists so that they can have access to certain spaces. His regret today is the lack of support from the authorities. “We do not feel the presence of our authorities by our side. They do not come to attend our events while those from other countries come. An example, since we started the steps for the 11th edition, we sent a letter to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. We still have no answer, ”regrets Fall. However, he adds, the neighboring Gambia who is the guest of honor of the edition has already reacted. “We want to feel our authorities by our side because we participate in the promotion of the Senegal destination,” said the artist. Advice for these young colleagues, Abdoukarim has of them, he recommends their self -denial, professionalism, patience, but especially unity. In addition to the artistic routes, Abdoukarim Fall continues his individual exhibitions in Senegal and all over the world.
By Jeanne Sagna (correspondent)
