Bili Bidjocka's Conceptual Art Explores Painting's Essence Through Time and Space Experiments

Bili Bidjocka dives deep into what painting truly represents, emphasizing its significance over mere techniques. In 1999, he launched The Jet-lag Experiment at Kunstmuseum Bonn, where he invited participants to spend a full day in a sealed apartment with time running backward. Just twelve artists took up the challenge to display their work in this unique setting. This concept stemmed from his observations of Australian tourists at the Prado in Madrid, drawn to Diego Velázquez’s masterpieces. Later, in 2017, he introduced The Chess Society at Documenta 14, creating a link between Kassel and Athens through both digital and physical interactions. His recent solo exhibitions include #Fiction 4 _ Where is Bili? in Abidjan and P.I.E.TÀ. Le Plan prend forme in Douala, both in 2016. Based in Paris, he constantly redefines what it means to be a painter without traditional methods. In the January-February 2019 issue of ArtReview, Simon Njami spotlighted Bidjocka as a creative force navigating the contemporary art world.