Jean-Frederic A. Batasse, Togo

“I belong to the Kabye ethnic group found in the northern region of Togo. I studied with renowned Togolese, and UNESCO Artist for Peace, Paul Ahyi. I have twice represented Togo as a sculptor in the Francophone Games and have participated in art shows and events around the world.
When your art raises awareness about human rights issues with your country’s government then you become an irritation to the regime. In Togo, this leads to heavy political persecution. For me it is unacceptable to keep quiet when a poor country like mine has so much inequality. I was forced to flee my home to save myself from an inhuman wickedness of torture where death seemed preferable.
Every survivor of torture has a past, present and future. In the fire of our experiences, war and peace, love and hate, joy and madness, we are shaped to be who we are now. Whenever I tell my story I tell it with a smile because I chose to live by looking ahead. There is an old West African idea that has become my credo, “Enrich me with your difference.” To me this means that whenever you encounter a new situation—whether it is another person, place, or thing—you put together all the different aspects of the situation—your knowledge, your understanding, your love—to build something good.

I have selected one of my paintings to be projected on to me. The painting is both figurative and abstract, expressing what I want to reveal in the subject matter, and allowing for further interpretation through the artistic language of the medium. My art is political because life is all about philosophy, communication, and awareness. It is through awareness that we sometimes denounce the abuse of power, corruption, and the failure to respect human rights.”