Konaté was born February 1st, 1953 in the northern town of Diré in Mali. He studied and graduated at the Institut National des Arts de Bamako[2] between the times of 1972 to 1976 with a degree in painting.[3] He then moved to Havana, Cuba from 1978 - 1985 to further his art education at the Superior de Arte, Havana, Cuba (Higher Institute of Plastic Arts).[2] During his time in Cuba he discovered multidisciplinary art. This left a long impression on him. Konaté used acrylic to paint a multitude of work. in the 1990's Konaté switched from traditional painting to tapestry.[3] His tapestries are shown in galleries all over the world today.
Career
Konaté worked as a graphic designer at the Musee National in Bamako. In 1998, he was appointed to be the Director of the Palais de la Culture.[4] He now works as the principal of the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers Multimédia Balla Fasseké Kouyaté in Bamako, Mali.[1]
He and his work have received several awards, including in 2002 the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mali and Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de France.[5]
Exhibitions
Solo shows
2013- Abdoulaye Konaté - Primo Marella Gallery Milan, Milan
2011- Abdoulaye Konaté: Window Commission 2011 - Institute of International Visual Arts - iniva, London
2009- Textiles - Heidelberger Forum für Kunst, Heidelberg
Trienal de Luanda 2007 - Trienal de Luanda, Luanda
2° Bienal Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo de Sevilla - BIACS - Fundación Bienal Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo de Sevilla, Sevilla
Africa Remix - Moderna Museet, Stockholm
SD Observatorio - IVAM - Institut Valencià d'Art Modern, Valencia
Africa Remix - Contemporary Art of a Continent - Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
7ème Biennale de l´Art Africain contemporain - Dak'Art Biennale de l’art africain contemporain, Dakar
2005
African Remix - l'art contemporain d'un continent - Centre Pompidou - Musée National d´Art Moderne, Paris
Africa Remix – Contemporary Art of a Continent - Hayward Gallery, London
2004
Afrika Remix - Zeitgenössische Kunst eines Kontinents - Museum Kunstpalast, Dusseldorf
1998
24° Bienal de São Paulo - Bienal de Sao Paulo, São Paulo
1997
Die Anderen Modernen : Zeitgenössische Kunst aus Afrika, Asien und Lateinamerika - Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin
Influences
Combining his painting skills with installation work, he comments on political and environmental affairs. The encroachment of the Sahel and the impact of AIDS on society and on individuals have been two major themes in his work.[6]
His questioning of the political, social, and economic scenes in contemporary Mali is evident in how AIDS, wars, ecological issues, human rights, and globalization affects all aspects of life and individuals within society. Much of his large-scale work is textile-based, a medium that is more readily available than paints.
Artes Mundi
In 2008 Konaté was nominated for the Artes Mundi prize. His exhibition included pieces such as Les Marcheurs and Tafo ou la force du verbe.
Literature
La toile d'Abdoulaye Konaté / Joëlle Busca. - Bamako, Mali, Ministère de la culture et Dakar, Senegal, Galerie nationale d'art, 2011.
Abdoulaya Konaté / edited by Camilla Jalving ... [et al.]. - London, BlainSouthern and Ishøj, Arken, 2016.
