OUT OF THE BLUE: INDIGO INSTALLATION OAXACA

In 2018, I had the honor of coordinating the first visit to Mexico of Aboubakar Fofana, the indigo master from Mali. He came to create his first installation, 'Wild Is The Wind,' in the stunning agave fields of Oaxaca, and Mezcaleria Los Amantes, in Tlacolula de Matamoros, in the central valleys of Oaxaca, provided the perfect backdrop for this masterpiece to take shape.

We were hosted by Centro de las Artes de San Agustín, an artist residency founded by Maestro Francisco Toledo. Thanks to their premises, we worked in a wonderful space that is dedicated to their felt atelier. We also received the valuable support of Juana Gutiérrez Contreras, a Zapotec master dyer, and weaver, from Teotitlán del Valle.

Aboubakar Fofana is a modern master of indigo, a rare blend between mystic and alchemist. He is fascinated by indigo, yet it remains an intangible mystery. In Mali, it is still an essential part of tradition, culture, and identity, and a symbol of a value system that is still used as currency.

Indigo is considered the oldest dye and is represented in many cultures globally. It is the color of intuition and consciousness, and its vibrational powers benefit the soul, mind, and body. Fofana's techniques for indigo dyeing are identical to those used 5000 years ago, but for him, it is like a spiritual practice. He works tirelessly to create a dozen tones of blue, from very light to very dark. Each has a different name, and each evokes a specific emotion. Fofana declines to name a favorite blue, stating that it's like a father with his children, and he loves them all. However, there is a tone that remains special for its elusiveness. "Perhaps I'm looking for my specific blue, and I'm sure I'll never find it," he says. "Perhaps when I find it, it will be the end of everything."

Every step of the installation was executed with a compass for elegance and beauty, made possible by the invaluable support of the entire community, immersing us for a full week between the past and present.

It was an absolute privilege to assist Aboubakar during his first exhibition in Mexico and to call him a friend. His patience, tenacity, and precision are as rare as they are precious, and his work is a testament to the beauty of the world we live in.

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