Hako Hankson

Born in 1968, lives and works in Douala/Cameroon. He represented Cameroon at the Venice Biennale 2024.

Hankson takes us into a world that the people experience as comprehensively animated. They do not claim to subjugate nature. They interact – spiritually and ritually – with flora and fauna, gods, spirits and demons, with the living and the dead. They are filled with myths and legends. This is how they form identity and social affiliation. This can be discovered in Hankson’s figures, masks, symbols, characters and constellations. 

In developed industrialized countries, the prevailing belief is that an analytical mind is the key to a successful life. But this is not how most people in the world think, as anthropologist Joseph Henrich’s studies have shown us. Those who only pay homage to ‘rationality’ and ‘individualism’ are indeed ‘peculiar’: ‘The Weirdest People in the World’.

Hankson invites viewers into an enigmatic culture to cross ideological boundaries, adopt new perspectives and experience the world anew. He himself is a border crosser. Fascinated by modern technology and industrial progress, he trained as a car mechanic. But he is also influenced by his father, a sculptor, musician and spiritual leader. 

Hako Hankson paints with bold colors, combines different times and spaces, creates vibrant tension. He celebrates the unity of body and soul, of people and nature, of the present characterized by the past. Spiritually related to fundamental questions of human existence. 

Painters from Picasso to Basquiat have incorporated elements of African art into their works. Often without reference. Hankson is rooted in this culture, harbors its diversity, draws on its centuries-old resources and thus gives global culture its own impetus. 

Hako Hankson CV

Born in 1968, Bafang, Cameroon.

EXHIBITIONS

Solo and Group exhibitions (selection)

2024

The urgency of thought, Primo Marella Gallery, Lugano, CH;

Venice Biennial Cameroon Pavilion, Venezia, IT;

2023

The Lost Legacy, Primo Marella Gallery Milano, Milan, IT;

2022

The Black Ghost, Primo Marella Gallery Milano, Milan, IT; 

Sur la route des réfugiés, OFF Biennale de Dakar, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal / Biennale de Dakar, Sénégal;

2021

Réalisme ornirique: habiter le réel, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal;

2020

Galerie Le Sud, Zurich, Suisse / Exposition Kamerun, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal;

2019

Initiation, Fondation Donwahi, Abidjan, Côte-d’Ivoire / Initiation, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal / Space in between, avec This Is Not A White Cube, Lisbonne, Portugal;

2018

Renaissance, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal Artual Gallery, Abidjan, Côte-d’Ivoire Galerie Mokolo, Douala, Cameroun;

2017

La nature dans la ville, Institut Français de Cotonou, Bénin / LA-BAS, esplanade des rencontres, Douala, Cameroun;

2016

Traces du passé et poussières de cendre, Espace Doual’art, Douala, Cameroun;

2015

Cameroun une vision contemporaine, The World Bank Act 5, Yaoundé, Cameroun / Togetter for the future, In and Off Art Center, Douala, Cameroun;

2014

Lignes du cœur, Maison de la Coopérat- ion Allemande, Yaoundé, Cameroun / Traditions et contemporanéité, Espace doual’art, Douala, Cameroun;

2013

Jonction, Carré des Artistes, Douala, Cameroun;

2012

Ombres et esprits, Espace doual’art, Douala, Cameroun / Douala, Portraits, Espace doual’art, Douala, Cameroun;

2011

Benskin, Centre Culturel Français, Yaoundé, Cameroun / Initia- tion, Coopération Allemande, Yaoundé, Cameroun;

2010

Cité Otentic, Bonapriso-Douala, Cameroun 2006 / Mygale bleue, Cannes, France;

2009

Souvenir de Patrice Lumumba, Centre Culturel Français, Douala, Cameroun;

2008

Nuances Délicates, Centre Culturel Français, Yaoundé, Cameroun;

2005

Grand Popo, Villa Karl, Bénin / CHIASMA, Palais des Congrès, Yaoundé, Cameroun

2004

Fouilles Arkéologic, Espace doual’art, Douala, Cameroun; 2003: Espoir, Médecins sans Frontières, Douala, Cameroun/ Brazza project, Brazzaville, CD / Kin wenze wenze, Ecole des beaux – arts de Kinshasa, CD

Hako Hankson

Born in 1968, lives and works in Douala/Cameroon. He represented Cameroon at the Venice Biennale 2024.

Hankson takes us into a world that the people experience as comprehensively animated. They do not claim to subjugate nature. They interact – spiritually and ritually – with flora and fauna, gods, spirits and demons, with the living and the dead. They are filled with myths and legends. This is how they form identity and social affiliation. This can be discovered in Hankson’s figures, masks, symbols, characters and constellations. 

In developed industrialized countries, the prevailing belief is that an analytical mind is the key to a successful life. But this is not how most people in the world think, as anthropologist Joseph Henrich’s studies have shown us. Those who only pay homage to ‘rationality’ and ‘individualism’ are indeed ‘peculiar’: ‘The Weirdest People in the World’.

Hankson invites viewers into an enigmatic culture to cross ideological boundaries, adopt new perspectives and experience the world anew. He himself is a border crosser. Fascinated by modern technology and industrial progress, he trained as a car mechanic. But he is also influenced by his father, a sculptor, musician and spiritual leader. 

Hako Hankson paints with bold colors, combines different times and spaces, creates vibrant tension. He celebrates the unity of body and soul, of people and nature, of the present characterized by the past. Spiritually related to fundamental questions of human existence. 

Painters from Picasso to Basquiat have incorporated elements of African art into their works. Often without reference. Hankson is rooted in this culture, harbors its diversity, draws on its centuries-old resources and thus gives global culture its own impetus. 

Hako Hankson CV

Born in 1968, Bafang, Cameroon.

EXHIBITIONS

Solo and Group exhibitions (selection)

2024

The urgency of thought, Primo Marella Gallery, Lugano, CH;

Venice Biennial Cameroon Pavilion, Venezia, IT;

2023

The Lost Legacy, Primo Marella Gallery Milano, Milan, IT;

2022

The Black Ghost, Primo Marella Gallery Milano, Milan, IT; 

Sur la route des réfugiés, OFF Biennale de Dakar, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal / Biennale de Dakar, Sénégal;

2021

Réalisme ornirique: habiter le réel, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal;

2020

Galerie Le Sud, Zurich, Suisse / Exposition Kamerun, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal;

2019

Initiation, Fondation Donwahi, Abidjan, Côte-d’Ivoire / Initiation, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal / Space in between, avec This Is Not A White Cube, Lisbonne, Portugal;

2018

Renaissance, OH GALLERY, Dakar, Sénégal Artual Gallery, Abidjan, Côte-d’Ivoire Galerie Mokolo, Douala, Cameroun;

2017

La nature dans la ville, Institut Français de Cotonou, Bénin / LA-BAS, esplanade des rencontres, Douala, Cameroun;

2016

Traces du passé et poussières de cendre, Espace Doual’art, Douala, Cameroun;

2015

Cameroun une vision contemporaine, The World Bank Act 5, Yaoundé, Cameroun / Togetter for the future, In and Off Art Center, Douala, Cameroun;

2014

Lignes du cœur, Maison de la Coopérat- ion Allemande, Yaoundé, Cameroun / Traditions et contemporanéité, Espace doual’art, Douala, Cameroun;

2013

Jonction, Carré des Artistes, Douala, Cameroun;

2012

Ombres et esprits, Espace doual’art, Douala, Cameroun / Douala, Portraits, Espace doual’art, Douala, Cameroun;

2011

Benskin, Centre Culturel Français, Yaoundé, Cameroun / Initia- tion, Coopération Allemande, Yaoundé, Cameroun;

2010

Cité Otentic, Bonapriso-Douala, Cameroun 2006 / Mygale bleue, Cannes, France;

2009

Souvenir de Patrice Lumumba, Centre Culturel Français, Douala, Cameroun;

2008

Nuances Délicates, Centre Culturel Français, Yaoundé, Cameroun;

2005

Grand Popo, Villa Karl, Bénin / CHIASMA, Palais des Congrès, Yaoundé, Cameroun

2004

Fouilles Arkéologic, Espace doual’art, Douala, Cameroun; 2003: Espoir, Médecins sans Frontières, Douala, Cameroun/ Brazza project, Brazzaville, CD / Kin wenze wenze, Ecole des beaux – arts de Kinshasa, CD

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