Medium
Signature
Hand-signed by artist, sticker label
Certificate of authenticity
Included
Frame
Not included

Beninese conceptual artist Meschac Gaba explores themes of globalization, consumerism, and the Western museum through acts of artistic appropriation. Gaba first emerged on the international art scene with his 12-part project The Museum of Contemporary African Art (1997–2002), which concluded at Documenta XI. His nomadic museum comprised 12 rooms—including the Wedding Room, Library, Game Room, and the Salon—that were exhibited separately in several countries. The “museum” set forth a sort of living biography of the artist (Gaba was actually married in the Wedding Room in 2000), as well as positing a biting critique of the power of Western cultural conventions. In more recent work, Gaba has created objects and sculptures from braided hair extensions that are popular with African-Americans and the diaspora. The extensions, which originated in West Africa, form models of the World Financial Center, the Guggenheim—rendered all in black—and other buildings, and vehicles from the United States and Benin.

Established
Represented by industry leading galleries.
Collected by a major museum
Tate
Selected exhibitions
2021
CITOYEN DU MONDEStevenson
2017
Their Own HarlemsThe Studio Museum in Harlem
MESCHAC GABA - L’HOMME ET L’ARGENTIn Situ - Fabienne Leclerc
View all

Valise Diplomatique - Suisse - African Union, 2017

Wood, glass, Benin banknotes, textile flags
22 2/5 × 29 1/2 × 3 1/2 in
57 × 75 × 9 cm
Unique
.
€17,000
Ships from Romainville, FR
Shipping: €500 within Continental Europe, €1,000 rest of world
VAT included in price
Location
Romainville
Certificate
This work includes a certificate of authenticity.
Locked
Secure payment
Secure transactions by credit card through Stripe.
Learn more.
Check
Your purchase is protected
Learn more about Artsy’s buyer protection..
Have a question? Visit our help center or .
Medium
Signature
Hand-signed by artist, sticker label
Certificate of authenticity
Included
Frame
Not included

Beninese conceptual artist Meschac Gaba explores themes of globalization, consumerism, and the Western museum through acts of artistic appropriation. Gaba first emerged on the international art scene with his 12-part project The Museum of Contemporary African Art (1997–2002), which concluded at Documenta XI. His nomadic museum comprised 12 rooms—including the Wedding Room, Library, Game Room, and the Salon—that were exhibited separately in several countries. The “museum” set forth a sort of living biography of the artist (Gaba was actually married in the Wedding Room in 2000), as well as positing a biting critique of the power of Western cultural conventions. In more recent work, Gaba has created objects and sculptures from braided hair extensions that are popular with African-Americans and the diaspora. The extensions, which originated in West Africa, form models of the World Financial Center, the Guggenheim—rendered all in black—and other buildings, and vehicles from the United States and Benin.

Established
Represented by industry leading galleries.
Collected by a major museum
Tate
Selected exhibitions (3)
Other works from MESCHAC GABA - L’HOMME ET L’ARGENT
Other works by Meschac Gaba
Other works from In Situ - Fabienne Leclerc
Related works