La causette

Painting Mixed Media (Collage, acrylic , natural Pigments) - Unique piece

Born on January 12, 1981, in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, Jean-Baptiste Djéka (Djéka Kouadio Jean-Baptiste Arsène) is a visual artist whose work reflects a profound dialogue between tradition and contemporary art.

Immersed from a young age in the vibrant cultural life of Bouaké, Djéka developed an early passion for drawing, later refined through rigorous training at the Centre Technique des Arts Appliqués in Bingerville and INSAAC in Abidjan.

Deeply inspired by Baoulé symbolism and the ancestral techniques of his homeland, his practice combines natural pigments, sculptural forms, and mixed media to explore themes of memory, identity, and transformation. Although rooted in African heritage, Djéka firmly believes his work speaks to all humanity—he does not create exclusively for a Black audience, but for anyone capable of identifying with universal values of resilience, beauty, and cultural continuity.

Today, he stands as a pioneering figure in Ivorian and African contemporary art, bridging cultural specificity and global resonance.

"La causette" is one of the seven paintings from the series „Autour de la table“. In "La causette", Jean-Baptiste Djéka celebrates the art of dialogue and human connection.

Three elegantly dressed women gathered around a round table embody shared speech — words that unite, soothe, and build.

Here, “la causette” (the little chat) is more than casual talk: it becomes an act of connection, a moment of communion between souls, a celebration of social bonds and gentle speech.

The women — embodiments of grace, wisdom, and transmission — represent the feminine energy of dialogue, one that unites rather than divides.