"Through my work, I want to catalyze the strong need of a conversation between the public across the world and the characters on my canvases. This is a possibility for people who don’t know Africa or Cameroon to have an overview of the daily life of people here, to show their aspirations, their struggles, and their successes."
Ajarb Bernard Ategwa, born in 1988 in Kumba, Cameroon, delves into the dynamic urban evolution of his homeland. His paintings, in sizable formats, mirror the grandeur of cityscapes and public domains. With a vibrant color palette and a graphic style reminiscent of Douala’s advertising language, Cameroon’s largest city and economic hub, Ategwa captures the essence of rapid change. His painting technique involves intricate free-hand line drawings on canvas, conveying a sense of movement and momentum that mirrors the swift transformation of his city.