Ferdinand Kokou Makouvia’s practice of sculpture and performance reflects his deep interest and spiritual exploration into matter—be it rubber, copper, wood, plastic, soil or steal. Using elements of the traditional southern Togolese Mina culture and his artistic training, Makouvia questions the vernacular character of contemporary sculpture. Crafting each material himself, he also regularly upcycles discarded items such as cardboard boxes and bottles to incorporate into his pieces. Ferdinand is currently studying at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris. He is the 2017 recipient of the ADAGP Prize. He has participated in GARTEN Utopien – Vogelfrei 11, Darmstadt (2015), 62nd Salon the Montrouge, Paris (2017) and the Biennale de la Jeune Création Européenne 2017-2019 in 7 European countries. Exhibitions and performances include Trame(s), Galerie Épisodique, Paris (2017) and 28 Minutes Inside, Galeria Continua, Le Moulin (2016).