Souwèr from the Afric.Art collection.
For the first time in Switzerland, the Vitromusée Romont is devoting an exhibition entirely to Senegalese glass painting. It features a number of artists who stand out from the trend towards mass production and the tourist market. Their souwèr, the Wolof term for this technique, evolve in an iconographic repertoire that departs from the Islamic tradition, ranging from portraiture to genre scenes, from caricature to comic strip. Driankés, elegant women in sumptuous finery, musicians, wrestlers, embracing couples, wild animals... Senegalese life, told and imagined, unfolds before the eyes of visitors in all its contrasting variety. The works on display come from the Afric.Art collection, which comprises over a thousand paintings. Put together by Marianne Berna, the collection reflects the sensibility of a Zurich collector whose interest in this popular art form dates back to the late 90s. A frequent traveller to Senegal, she documented the workshops of Dakar through her encounters with painters.
As part of the exhibition, the Vitromusée Romont is offering a glass painting course led by Senegalese painter Azou Bade on July 14, 2024. The artist will also be present at the museum on July 7, 2024 for a demonstration of the technique and from July 9 to 13, 2024 for an artistic residency. These are unique opportunities to meet an artist who has been making souwèr for over 30 years. Trained at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Dakar, he lives and works in Saint-Louis (Senegal). Places on the course are limited, so registration is required.
Fees
| Adult from 16 years old | 15.- CHF |
| AVS/AI, student | 12.- CHF |
| Children under 16 in the company of an adult | Free |
The Vitromusée is open daily, except Mondays
November - March : 11.00 to 17.00 April - October : 10.00 to 17.00
Dates and timetable
From 16 Mar to 29 Sep 2024
Tuesday11:00 - 17:00
Wednesday11:00 - 17:00
Thursday11:00 - 17:00
Friday11:00 - 17:00
Saturday11:00 - 17:00
Sunday11:00 - 17:00
Vitromusée Romont
Case postale 150
1680 Romont
+41 26 652 10 95
