The role of the individual in the world

Pascale Marthine Tayou has created the perfect union between the eggs that often feature in his installations and the tree that he uses as a source of inspiration and a reference to nature. Eggs, a symbol of perfection for many cultures and religions, were given as gifts in ancient times to celebrate the rebirth of springtime.

The objects, sculptures, installations, drawings and videos produced by the artist all share a common thread: they feature an individual making their way through the world and exploring the question of the global village. It is in this context that Pascale Marthine Tayou examines his African origins and the expectations related to them.

Origins and name

Born in Nkongsamba, Cameroon in 1966, he now lives and works in Ghent, Belgium and Yaoundé, Cameroon. His work is characterised by immense variability: it is mobile, heterogenous, falling outside of pre-determined patterns.

Starting with the transformation of his name to the feminine version, the artist has embraced duality as a means of evading identification and definition. His work is always closely linked to the idea of travelling and of coming into contact with that which is different to oneself.