Ludovic Nkoth: What If was published on the occasion of the eponymous exhibition at Fondation Le Corbusier – Maison La Roche, a masterpiece of twentieth-century modern architecture conceived by
Le Corbusier in a multicolored palette. The exhibition features intimate figurative works that capture the private lives of the subjects in moments of thought, rest, and enjoyment, inviting the viewer to imagine alternative narratives and outcomes when images and objects of the Black experience, created by a Black artist, inhabit a space designed for modern abstract art.
Ludovic Nkoth delved into the archives of the Fondation Le Corbusier, particularly fascinated by the relationship between the architect and the collector. What if Raoul La Roche had come across Ludovic Nkoth's work? What if a family lived in the house? What if we reconsidered the very notion of home? What if the artist could talk to
Le Corbusier?
Playing with our expectations, Ludovic Nkoth is particularly interested in the question of context, the reciprocal influence between the work of art and the iconic place that houses it.
Maison La Roche offers an "architectural promenade" that invites visitors to move freely from one volume to the next: in each room, from the entrance hall to the purist bedroom, Nkoth's paintings insert themselves into the space of imagination and possibility, encouraging visitors to explore the encounter between artistic visions and architectural notions, to consider the "what ifs" that emanate from this project.
Born in Cameroon in 1994, Ludovic Nkoth moved to the United States at the age of 13, he now lives and works in New York. Ludovic Nkoth's artistic creations capture the essence of the Black experience with an unparalleled emotional depth that resonates with the diasporic life and the rich history of his heritage. Each of his thickly impastoed portraits is a gateway into a world of colour and texture. Through his masterful use of distinct pink, red, yellow, blue, and brown regions, and fluid squiggles, Ludovic Nkoth transforms a single face into a map of complexity. With each stroke of the brush, he uncovers the beauty and the struggles that are so often hidden behind a façade of stoicism. As a Cameroon-born artist who has made his home in the United States, Ludovic Nkoth brings a unique perspective to his work, infusing it with his own personal experiences of being a Black immigrant in a foreign land. His practice is a seamless fusion of art and introspection, with each piece serving as a reflection of his ruminations on family history, tradition, and the ongoing legacy of colonialism that continues to impact Black lives today. In Ludovic Nkoth's hands, the canvas becomes a powerful platform for social commentary and an unflinching exploration of the many challenges that Black people face.
