Zahui Yvann is a visual artist and photographer from Abijan, Ivory Coast. He begun his journey into art at an early age of 15 in Ghana were he begun experimenting with filmmaking and multimedia computer graphics. This early immersion in digital media laid the groundwork for his unique visual language—one that fuses photography with intricate digital manipulation.
Yvann’s photomanipulation techniques are deeply rooted in African spirituality and symbolism. Through photomontage and surreal compositions, he creates layered, dreamlike images that draw on traditional African cosmologies, ancestral memory, and metaphysical themes. His use of color, texture, and symbolic elements—such as masks, ritual markings, and natural landscapes—evokes the spiritual dimensions of identity and heritage.
This approach aligns with a broader movement among African digital artists who explore the intersection of tradition and modernity. For instance, artists like Mbali Dhlamini and Tamary Kudita delve into themes of decolonization and cultural identity through digital art forms. Similarly, the Ase Series by Àsìkò explores Yoruba spirituality through photography and mixed media, constructing narratives that straddle fantasy and reality.
Yvann’s work contributes to this vibrant tapestry, offering a portal into a reimagined African futurism rooted in the sacred past. Each piece invites viewers into a world where the physical and spiritual coexist, challenging colonial representations of African bodies and reclaiming narratives through a contemporary lens.
My artistic technique is a form of Afrofuturism this is a way for me to express my African identity through my artworks and also to draw the attention of this generation to the realities they face.
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