Suwer by Mam Gueye
Portrait of the beautiful Aba Segú –Suwer– (Dakar, Senegal)
A Suwer is a painting and as such is usually sold to decorate walls or sideboards, but we have also seen them used as coasters or as signs for toilet doors, if the person portrayed is a Serer or Wolof girl or boy. Give it to the person who is open to the races and colours of the world.
The Serer, Wolof or Mandinga people prefer to write it suwer, but we have no doubt that it is an orthographic transcription of the French word sousverre, which should be translated as "under the glass" (because they are painted on the back of a piece of glass), a word that the French prefer to use, however, to refer to a sad coaster.
But let's get to the point: suwer is a colorful and vital artistic expression that was born at the beginning of the 20th century in the coastal cities of Senegal as a reaction to the lack of permissiveness shown by the French colonizers towards the dissemination of Islamizing ideas and texts. The rigid control exercised over the printing presses of Saint Louis or Dakar by the colonial administration determined that an army of street artists soon emerged who reproduced colorful Koranic scenes under pieces of glass, which were then highly appreciated by a largely illiterate population. The images starring Noah and his Ark, Ismail and Ibrahim, Omar and Ali immersed in epic battles or even unorthodox portraits of the Prophet were the favorites of artists such as Mor Gueye, Ibrahima Sall or Gora Mbengue, now rescued and raised to the altars of Art with capital letters by the gurus of Pop Art.
Later, religious motifs would be replaced by nostalgia for life in the village, by secular themes or even by the disillusionment associated with a progress that seemed to resist reaching the countries of Africa.
The Suwer that we suggest on this occasion is a variation of the portrait of Aba Segú, the most beautiful woman in West Africa, taken to glass by Mamadou Gueye, the son of the mythical Mor Gueye, who now produces his work near Sandaga, in the Plateau from Dakar.
Material: paint on glass and cardboard
Height: 34cm; Width: 24cm
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FAQ
Our shipments are made with tracking and, almost always, with several shipping options so that you can select the one you prefer. If the product still does not arrive, we would contact the carrier to resolve the problem. In 'about us' - 'FAQ' you will find a link to the tracking information of your shipment. You will also receive an email with the link.
You have 30 days to return it. Once the return has been received and examined, we will proceed with the refund.
We use the best packaging. Even so, more fragile products are shipped with insurance. If the product arrives broken, it will be returned and your money will be refunded.
It is unlikely, since the organic material has been properly treated and is delivered with maintenance instructions. In any case, you have 30 days to return it.
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We have published business hours that we strive to adhere to. If you do not have time available at that time, you can request a personalized appointment. If you find the store closed during business hours, there is a phone number you can call (+34 630 49 16 72) and it is very likely that we will be there within 5 minutes.
In the physical store we have many more products than on the website and it is worth coming to visit it. If you can't come, contact us. We also accept orders.
At Black Market we are not antique dealers. Nor do we intend to appropriate the different and very diverse cultures that have existed throughout Africa. At Black Market we offer, however, a selection of all the art generated by men and women that, in many cases, we admire and know personally.
Send us a photo of the room you want to decorate and we can offer you suggestions.
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