‘The one who does not forget.’

- Cheik Nadro

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ARTNYC and Space 776 presents in collaboration Frédéric Bruly Bouabré (1923~2014)’s solo exhibition in Space 776, New York, from April 11 to 29, 2025.

 

This is Bouabré's first solo exhibition in New York since his 2022 solo exhibition at the MoMA. This posthumous exhibition presents works from the 1970s to the 2000s, alongside his works that have not yet been made public.

 

Bouabré, born in Côte d'Ivoire, invented the Alphabet Bété, a written language system of the oral language spoken by the Bété community. Alphabet Bété comprises 449 meticulously crafted pieces that intricately blend imagery with monosyllabic Bété words, offering profound insights into everyday Bété life.

 

As a young man, Bouabré served as a civil servant in the French colonial government, during which he laid the groundwork for the development of the Alphabet Bété. He adopted the "Chik Nidro" moniker, symbolizing his prophetic persona, driven by a deep-seated desire for communication. Troubled by the limitations of the Bété language spoken by his people, Bouabré recognized the transformative power of visual language to express and preserve cultural identity amidst societal evolution. He meticulously observed and documented primitive lifestyles, cultures, and facial expressions, paving the way for the creation of the Alphabet Bété.

 

His legacy endures through thousands of love letters in the form of his art, serving as a timeless testament to his commitment to bridging communication barriers between the French and Bété communities.