TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary

Hervé Yamguen

Hervé Yamguen, born on June 17, 1971, in Douala, Cameroon, is a multidisciplinary artist known for his work as a painter, sculptor, poet, performer, and scenographer. A self-taught artist, he began painting in his late teens and later refined his practice through reading and a year of study at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Strasbourg.

Based in the New Bell neighborhood of Douala, Yamguen is a founding member of the Cercle Kapsiki, an artist collective established in 1998 that promotes artistic interventions in urban spaces. One of their notable projects was the "Scénographies Urbaines," which brought art into public areas and encouraged community engagement.

Yamguen’s art explores the connections between human beings, nature, and the animal world. His imagery often includes hybrid and transformative figures—human faces merging with birds or bodies entangled with plants—reflecting a poetic and spiritual approach to the everyday. He works in various media including painting, bronze sculpture, photography, and performance.

As a poet, he has published several collections and frequently combines text with visual art. He has also led public art initiatives, such as the mural project “Les Mots écrits de New Bell,” which integrated poetry and visual design with contributions from local youth and musicians.

In recent years, Yamguen has reconnected with his cultural roots after being named a "notable" in his ancestral village, Bandja-Balassie. This experience has brought new dimensions to his work, blending traditional Cameroonian spiritual practices with contemporary artistic expression. Hervé Yamguen is recognized internationally, with exhibitions in Europe and Africa, and his work continues to bridge personal, communal, and mythological narratives.

Related works in the collection

Hervé Yamguen Histoire de têtes 3, 2018

Hervé Yamguen Se Sauver, 2023

Hervé Yamguen Prendre soin, 2023

Hervé Yamguen L'arrière pays mental, 2023