Local and international artists take part in coconut carving exhibition |30 September 2017

Wu Mingju from China and Seychellois Donatien Fréminot and Ridley Rose are three artists taking part in a coconut carving and craft exhibition at the Domaine de Val des Près, Au Cap entitled Eden.

The exhibition provides a platform for our artists to showcase their talents, allowing them the space and right platform to partake in the creative industries in Seychelles.

Wu Mingju is one of the most well-known carving artists in China; he has his own company known as the Haikou Minju Carving Limited. He has over 26 years of experience as an artist in this field.

The visit of a coconut carving expert to take part in the exhibition is at the invitation of the Office of the Mayor of Victoria and falls under the Twinning Agreement signed between Victoria and the City of Haikou, China.

The exhibition was officially opened on Monday this week by the chief executive (CEO) of the Seychelles Heritage Foundation (SHF) Benjamine Rose, in the presence of the Minister for Industry, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation Wallace Cosgrow, the Mayor of Victoria David Andre, Chinese ambassador to Seychelles Yu Jinsong and other invited guests.

CEO Rose stated that coconut carving is unique and that it is rare to find such amazing products made thereof.

“Coconut carving is an area of artwork that is less common in our creative arts, but it also remains one of the exquisite art forms.  This exhibition highlights the quality of craftsmanship we have in Seychelles by our two local artists. Also it enables our local artists to enhance their knowledge and ideas about other forms of art with coconut from Wu Mingju from China,” she said.

Donation Fréminot is a very talented local artist who represented Seychelles in the Salon Mondiale du Tourisme among other international exhibitions. Recently he represented Seychelles in the Surajkund International Craft Melai in Haryana, India.

“I started to indulge in this art in 1980; I specialise in wood, bamboo and coconut shell carving. Currently I am a part-time lecturer at the Seychelles Institute of Art & Design (SIAD) and other times I can be found in my studio. I urge all youths not to be afraid to showcase their talent and be bold in following their passion,” he said.

Ridley Rose was the teacher of Mr Fréminot at the former Arts and Craft School. He spent more than 30 years of his life in this domain and has also taken part in several local exhibitions.

“Art is my passion, I specialise in wood work and currently I am experimenting with coral carving to enhance my knowledge,” he said.

The exhibition has been made possible by SHF, the Mayor of Victoria, the National Arts Council (NAC) and the Creative Industries and National Events Agency (Cinea).

Accompanying the article are some photos taken during the official opening of the exhibition.