Abdoulaye Konaté’s work primarily takes the form of textile-based installations that explore socio-political and environmental issues, as well as showcase his aesthetic concerns and formal language. Konaté questions the way in which societies and individuals, in Mali and beyond, have been affected by war, power struggles, religion, globalisation, ecological shifts and the AIDS epidemic. Employing material native to Mali, namely woven and dyed cloths, he creates large-scale abstract and figurative compositions. Konaté refers to the West-African tradition of using textiles as a means of commemoration and communication, balancing global political and social reflections with a reference to his own local and cultural history.
Konaté’s work has featured in international exhibitions including documenta 12, Kassel (2007) and Africa Remix (2004-2007). Konaté was selected to participate in Viva Arte Viva, the central exhibition in the 57th Venice Biennale (2017).