One of the artists whose work impressed me the most at the Arsenale exhibition of the Venice Art Biennale is Abu Bakarr Mansaray. An autodidact from Sierra Leone, the artist has always been equally curious about practical science, engineering, toy manufacturing and traditional African crafts. He applies this knowledge to drawing futuristic worlds inhabited by flying machines piloted by skeletons, tanks that look like dinosaurs, dangerous computer virus, ‘Hell Extinguisher’, aliens and other ‘sinister projects.’ All the machines and scenes of mayhem are annotated with great details about the functioning of his formidable creations.
Abu-Bakarr Mansaray, A Nuclear Mosquito From Hell
Terrific Poisonous and Hostile, 2011
The most dangerous and destructive object
Sufisticated Hell Lizard, 2011
Beyond Creation, 2004
Kaitiri Watini
Kaitiri Watini (detail)
Return of the Xynomoph, 2013
The Chamber of the Unknown, 2012
One of the African Black Magic. The Witch Plane
Abu Bakarr Mansaray, Appajax, 2000
Nuclear Telephone Discovered in Hell (detail)
Nuclear Telephone Discovered in Hell (detail)
Masibo
Inferno
DPG Universal
More photos.
Check out Abu Bakarr Mansaray’s drawings at All the World’s Futures, the 56th International Art Exhibition in Venice. The shows remain open until Sunday, 22nd of November 2015 at the Giardini and the Arsenale venues.
Previously: The Venice Biennale reports. Part 1: Angels, giant lizards and a Trojan horse.