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Title : My first steps and watercolor brushstrokes in Benin, Africa
link : My first steps and watercolor brushstrokes in Benin, Africa

My first steps and watercolor brushstrokes in Benin, Africa

[by Marion Rivolier in Cotonou and Ouidah, Benin]

I arrived in the middle of the night in Cotonou, Benin. The next morning, I discover the landscape through the window of my hotel. This is my first watercolor in Africa. The colorful range of the journey begins to emerge. It is very green, lush vegetation masks buildings under construction and various work near the hotel. We leave for our meeting by taxi; through the window, I discover the district of the ministries and expatriates. All the concessions are surrounded by a wall, an enclosure. The buildings are rather low, merchants of "everything" are installed along the roads. When I get out of the cab, I am choking as my colleagues tell me it's pretty good... I can not imagine what it's like in February!
The next day, I wish to visit Ouidah, an important city in the history of slavery in Benin. The sky is gray, there are some showers and the highway is shiny. The roadsides are full of shops of all types. On the road is the slalom between cars, mopeds and motorcycle taxi, drivers in yellow T-shirt.

Arriving towards Ouidah, the earth changes color, it becomes red-orange. The houses are colorful, yellow, red, orange, blue, a range of ocher and land unfolds to infinity. Some villas and houses are of Afro-Brazilian style, architectural style of Agudas, freed slaves. We visit the Zinsou Foundation in the beautiful Villa Ajavon which features free contemporary art. I paint the view through the darkly framed windows. I work with a range of red-orange-gold with brushstrokes of green that make singing colorful harmonies. I'm sweating heavily... it's really hot. We now follow the Slave Route, punctuated by cement sculptures of Cyprien Tokoudagba. I discover the lagoon, that's wonderful. On the beach is the Gate of No Return. These different monuments are places of recollection for the descendants of slaves. The lights are sublime, colored gray, ocher, orange and blue-green water.

We can not stay longer, we must take the road. At the entrance of Cotonou, a small unpleasant episode in a gas station requires us to stay an hour. I take the opportunity to quickly capture the moment; the night falls, in the end, I do not see much.

The next day, in Cotonou, I propose a walk to my colleague. We are heading towards the sea. We have the impression that many buildings are under construction. We never know if the work is interrupted for a moment or forever... we walk on Obama beach, we dribble, but it's really good to feel the wind, the ocean and see the vultures flying off!
Huts offering shadows allow me to spend a few moments painting: tree stump, barriers, buildings and the port in the distance.
There is not really any shade on the way back, the street sellers are watching us and make fun of those Whites who walk in the sun!

Delayed the plane, we are wandering a bit like souls in pain at the idea of ​​taking off at 2:30 in the morning.
At the airport, not to sink, I sketch the travelers in the waiting room. Everyone does what he can to keep going until boarding. After a last search, in the night, on the tarmac, we finally embark!
Then it's the take-off and the return to the Parisian cold weather.
It was a short journey but so intense and rich!

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