Conversations with Artists #005 with Boubacar Doumbia (Ségou, Mali)

Facilitated by Oban-based curator Naoko Mabon, we will be speaking to Boubacar Doumbia based in Ségou, Mali, one of the founding members of Groupe Bogolan Kasobané (Bogolan Kasobané Group), an artist collective of six people who have been making a significant contribution to saving the ancient textile making of Bogolan and elevating it to a symbol of Malian and African identity. Boubacar is also the Promoter at Le Ndomo (The Ndomo), a social enterprise of Bogolan textiles to train young people who have not had a chance to continue their studies or attend a school. The introductory session will be followed by a live Q&A session with the audience. The languages to be used are French and English. French-English translation is supported by Hannah Gray. 

Groupe Bogolan Kasobané (Bogolan Kasobané Group) is an association of six painters - one woman and five men - who finished their studies at the National Institute of Arts (INA) of Mali in 1979. Kasobané is the initial of the names of the founding members: Ka (Kandioura Coulibaly and Kletigui Dembelé); So (Souleymane Goro); Ba (Baba Keîta and Boubacar Doumbia); Né (Nene Thiam). The objectives of the group are: to use the Bogolan technique as a means of expression; and to safeguard traditional techniques of natural dyeing while improving them and using them as a means of economic development.

Le Ndomo (The Ndomo) is a social enterprise dealing with training and integration for young people who have not had a chance to continue their study or attend a school. Le Ndomo follows Groupe Bogolan Kasobané’s objectives while associating them with Malian societal values for job creation within the layers of society.

Eco Creative Cluster is a project focusing on nature-based materials and dyeing techniques. It involves developing a Dye Garden with Oban-based textile artist Deborah Gray and local volunteers in the grounds of The Rockfield Centre, a newly refurbished cultural and heritage hub located in the heart of Oban. The produce of the dye garden will be used in workshops and artworks using techniques such as Natural Dyeing, Ecoprinting and Shibori. In parallel, with Oban-based curator Naoko Mabon, the project also aims to weave a wider network of practitioners working across different localities in the world, with a sustainable and ecological approach, which will generate further collaborations locally, nationally and internationally. Led by The Rockfield Centre, Eco Creative Cluster is supported by the CHArts Place Makers: Micro-cluster Networks programme, in partnership with the Innovation School at Glasgow School of Art, funded by Creative Scotland.

Please note: this session will be recorded and an edited version of the recording will be published online thereafter. If you wish your identity to remain anonymous, you may use an anonymous name and keep your camera off with your microphone muted.

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