In his new work, Thierry Oussou reflects on the transatlantic triangle of trade that arose in the sixteenth century between Europe, Africa and the Americas. Enslaved people were taken from Benin to the Americas to produce raw materials such as cotton, with the resulting products and profits ultimately flowing back to Europe. By reshaping this colonial trade route and closing the loop between Africa and Europe, Oussou connects past and present.
The jury on Thierry Oussou
The jury commends Thierry Oussou for the depth of his work, the richness of his oeuvre, and the playful manner in which he intertwines form and context. Oussou’s material research is thorough. He transforms materials into powerful carriers of cultural significance and memory, casting new light on the history of trade and exploitation. The jury saw this, among other things, in his powerful works on cotton at the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, and in his exhibition at Buitenplaats Kasteel Wijlre, where he explored the role of labor and production and drew a compelling connection between Limburg and Benin.