YAKO
MATERIA PRIMA
WHEN HOPE MEETS NATURE
SUPERFICIAL
THE MEMORY OF THE NOMAD
END OF THE WORLD
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“Yako” is a common Ivorian expression, we say Yako to someone going through a difficult time whether they are tired, sick, depressed, or have lost a loved one. It’s more than just a word; it represents a way of
showing compassion and solidarity in the face of pain. It even refers to a ceremony during funerals. Yako truly reflects a core aspect of Ivorian social culture
As an artist I question a lot legacy, how our choices influence our afterlife. I find myself questioning how cultural rituals and spiritual beliefs around death shapes us. Having grown up in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
I’ve witnessed how mourning and celebration often coexist how the body is honored, and the soul guided.Funerals are both ceremonies of grief and joy, filled with rhythm, dance, and storytelling. As I explore visual ways to interpret death across different cultures, I am researching how this universal experience can be expressed not only through personal or cultural lenses, but in a form that resonates beyond borders and beliefs. In seeking a visual language for death, I am not looking for answers, but for ways to hold space for mystery.