First Lady

"I send back to the West that which belongs to them, that is to say, the refuse of consumer society that invades us every day." - Romuald Hazoumè

At first glance, these masks made from found objects may appear whimsical. The plastic jerrycans featured here, however, have a different meaning in the artist’s home country. In Benin, these jugs are used on the black market to transport gasoline. The lack of accessible gasoline is one example of the lingering economic disparity between African countries and former colonial powers. By using these objects in his art, Hazoumè tackles issues of postcolonial power structures in addition to consumption and consumerism.