Jean David Nkot
Biography
JEAN DAVID NKOT WAS BORN IN 1989 IN DOUALA, CAMEROON, WHERE HE LIVES AND WORKS.
After painting for his A-levels at the Institute of Artistic Training of Mbalmayo (IFA), he joined the Institute of Fine Arts Foumban where he obtained a degree in drawing and painting. Throughout his training in the fine arts of Foumban, he received several artist distinctions (Best sculptor, installer and painter). In 2017, he joined the « Post-Master » Moving Frontiers, organised by the National School of Arts of Paris-Cergy (France), on the theme of borders. Conscious of what his elders can bring him, he is frequently in the workshops of Hervé Youmbi, Salifou Lindou, Jean Jacques Kanté, Pascal Kenfack and Ruth Belinga.
Jean David Nkot’s work depicts the human condition. He used to focus on the theme of migration, however since 2020, his interest was on the exploitation of raw materials in Africa and the economical and political stakes underneath. He sheds light on the sufferings the bodies have to go through in order to answer to contemporary needs in technological goods within a capitalistic system. He shows how financial interests predominate and take over life itself including humans and nature.
Within his work, Nkot compensates for the lack of visibility and recognition of those who work in the shadows. By giving them the status of contemporary icons, he invites us to rethink our economic model to protect 'man' and the planet together. A deep sensitivity to humanity has never ceased to exist in his work, ecology is a new component in the work of this painter regarding the human condition. Nkot reminds us that man cannot be considered independent from their environment and that the protection of one comes with the conservation of the other.
Through his art, Jean David Nkot wants everyone to understand the reality of what happens in different territories - he aims to shake the conscience and encourage people to react. While his work challenges this narrative, his work also conveys hope; it is an invitation to go beyond despite our differences and be inspired by other stories and life trajectories.
After painting for his A-levels at the Institute of Artistic Training of Mbalmayo (IFA), he joined the Institute of Fine Arts Foumban where he obtained a degree in drawing and painting. Throughout his training in the fine arts of Foumban, he received several artist distinctions (Best sculptor, installer and painter). In 2017, he joined the « Post-Master » Moving Frontiers, organised by the National School of Arts of Paris-Cergy (France), on the theme of borders. Conscious of what his elders can bring him, he is frequently in the workshops of Hervé Youmbi, Salifou Lindou, Jean Jacques Kanté, Pascal Kenfack and Ruth Belinga.
Jean David Nkot’s work depicts the human condition. He used to focus on the theme of migration, however since 2020, his interest was on the exploitation of raw materials in Africa and the economical and political stakes underneath. He sheds light on the sufferings the bodies have to go through in order to answer to contemporary needs in technological goods within a capitalistic system. He shows how financial interests predominate and take over life itself including humans and nature.
Within his work, Nkot compensates for the lack of visibility and recognition of those who work in the shadows. By giving them the status of contemporary icons, he invites us to rethink our economic model to protect 'man' and the planet together. A deep sensitivity to humanity has never ceased to exist in his work, ecology is a new component in the work of this painter regarding the human condition. Nkot reminds us that man cannot be considered independent from their environment and that the protection of one comes with the conservation of the other.
Through his art, Jean David Nkot wants everyone to understand the reality of what happens in different territories - he aims to shake the conscience and encourage people to react. While his work challenges this narrative, his work also conveys hope; it is an invitation to go beyond despite our differences and be inspired by other stories and life trajectories.
Works
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www.corps matière@gmail.com.org, 2022
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Bp.Corps matière//Matière corps.cm.gmail.com, 2022
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##Pharaons@des crevasses.org, 2022
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#L’absent@de1885.monde, 2021
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Fr.blueline.org.cm.com, 2022
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##/@Les enjeux de la mondialisation.org, 2022
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Fr.m.THE AMAZONS OF THE MINES.org, 2022
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PO.box Plan d’aide humanitaire@yahoo.fr, 2022
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Pomme de la discorde.com, 2022
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Po.Box corps en corps.org.com, 2022
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www.transporteur à titrer.cm.org, 2021
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##Etat Monde##, 2021
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#Les légendes de la discorde.com, 2021
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BP.Jeux et enjeux@Monde, 2021
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Archeologie@des corps.cm.org, 2021
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#Transporteur@CM2C.com, 2021
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##/@tiredbody##, 2021
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Po.Box.The hope of the soul, 2021
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www.headtime@.com, 2021
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@PPTE/production/or/.gmail.com, 2021
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Les âmes des sous-sols #3, 2021
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Les âmes des sous-sols #6, 2021
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www.cause_effet.org, 2021
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BP. Effondrement du rêve.com, 2020
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www.joueurs@deludo.com, 2020
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www.look of hopes@.com #10, 2021
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www.look of hopes@.com #11, 2021
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www.look of hopes@.com #12, 2021
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#creuseur_chantier45@outlook.com, 2020
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#@Grâce/Transite.org, 2020
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The shadows of space 11, 2019
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The shadows of space 2, 2019
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The shadows of space 5, 2019
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A place, a dream a life@wordl.com, 2018
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Lampedusa, 2018
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Face au chemin, 2017
Exhibitions
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Classique!
Group show 16 Jul - 17 Sep 2022We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Parisian space located at 7 rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth, 75003 Paris. The inaugural exhibition Classique! - featuring works by - Moustapha Baidi Oumarou, Matthew Eguavoen, Salifou Lindou, Omar Mahfoudi, Richard Mensah, Ousmane Niang, Jean David Nkot, Nana Yaw Oduro, Hyacinthe Ouattara, Daniel Pengrapher and Marc Posso - it will take place from July 16th to September 17th.Read more -
Les pommes de la discorde
Jean David Nkot 11 Jul - 16 Oct 2022From June 11th to July 16th, we are pleased to host Les pommes de la discorde - Jean David Nkot's second major solo show in France. This new body of work is anchored in the artist's interest in ore extraction – which gave place to a solo show in 2021 (Human@Condition, 29 May – 7 July 2021) – and marks a technical progression in his work.Read more
Jean David Nkot’s work puts forward the invisible figures of the market economy. He recalls the fight between bodies over the territory. If he dedicates his large-scaled portraits to representing those whose work serves a consumption society with endless needs, the Cameroonian artist extends his research on ore extraction started in 2020 and leads a scientific work inspired by an archaeological approach. Whilst archaeology focuses on dead bodies and items from past civilisations buried underground, Jean David Nkot conducts what he callsarchéologie des corps (archeology of the bodies). Doing so, he explores and documents the life trajectory of people working under the ground, seeking the ores that will give life to the technological goods distributed over the world. -
Human@Condition
Jean David Nkot 27 May - 7 Jul 2021A painter of the human condition, Cameroonian Jean David Nkot’s work is easily recognisable, with his hyperrealist portraits over mapped backgrounds. Whilst he has focussed on the sorrow of his...Read more
Press
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Jean David Nkot – KUNSTFORUM International
Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, KUNSTFORUM International, June 1, 2020 -
Jean David Nkot – Le Monde Afrique
Olivier Herviaux, Le Monde Afrique, June 13, 2021 -
Jean David Nkot – RFI
Paola Guzzo, RFI, June 27, 2021 -
Jean David Nkot – Le Point Afrique
Sylvie Rantrua, Le Point Afrique , July 1, 2021 -
Jean David Nkot – France info
Laurent Filippi, France info, July 1, 2021
Publications
Art Fairs
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Art Brussels
Brussels | Belgium 20 - 23 Apr 2023Exhibiting artists Nasreddine Bennacer Saïdou Dicko Omar Mahfoudi Ousmane Niang Jean David Nkot Ozioma Onuzulike TemandrotaRead more -
Zonamaco
Mexico City | Mexico 8 - 12 Feb 2023EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Jean David Nkot Ozioma OnuzulikeRead more -
Art X Lagos
Lagos | Nigeria 4 - 6 Nov 2022EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Matthew Eguavoen Emma Odumade Jean David Nkot Ousmane NiangRead more -
AKAA
Paris | France 21 - 23 Oct 2022EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Matthew Eguavoen Jean David Nkot Moustapha Baidi Oumarou Hyacinthe OuattaraRead more -
BAD+
Bordeaux | France 7 - 10 Jul 2022EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Moustapha Baidi Oumarou Saïdou Dicko Salifou Lindou Jean David Nkot Hyacinthe Ouattara Omar MahfoudiRead more -
1-54 New York
NYC | USA 19 - 22 May 2022EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Salifou Lindou Moustapha Baidi Oumarou Cristiano Mangovo Jean David Nkot Crystal Yayra Anthony Boluwatife OyediranRead more -
1-54 Paris
Paris | France 7 - 10 Apr 2022EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Salifou Lindou Omar Mahfoudi Moustapha Baidi Oumarou Jean David Nkot Matthew EguavoenRead more -
Investec Cape Town
Cape Town | South Africa 18 - 20 Feb 2022EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Salifou Lindou Jean David Nkot Crystal Yayra Anthony Matthew Eguavoen Ousmane NiangRead more -
Untitled Miami
Miami | USA 29 Nov - 4 Dec 2021EXHIBITING ARTIST: Jean David NkotRead more -
AKAA
Paris | France 12 - 14 Nov 2021EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Cristiano Mangovo Ousmane Niang Jean David Nkot Marc PossoRead more -
1-54 New York
ONLINE EDITION 17 - 23 May 2021EXHIBITING ARTISTS : Moustapha Baidi Oumarou Saïdou Dicko Cristiano Mangovo Jean David Nkot Marc Posso We are pleased to participate in the 1-54 New York...Read more -
Art Paris
Paris | France 10 - 13 Sep 2020EXHIBITING ARTISTS : Jean David Nkot Moustapha Baidi Oumarou Asiko For our first participation in Art Paris, we are delighted to showcase works by Cameroonian...Read more -
1-54 Marrakech
Marrakech | Morocco 22 - 23 Feb 2020EXHIBITING ARTIST: Jean David NkotRead more -
Investec Cape Town
Cape Town | South Africa 14 - 16 Feb 2020EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Gideon Appah Moustapha Baidi Oumarou Hyacinthe Ouattara Jean David NkotRead more -
AKAA
Paris | France 9 - 11 Nov 2019EXHIBITED ARTISTS: Jean David Nkot Thameur Mejri Slimen El KamelRead more