Léa Bénétou
Artiste
The title îlots ekspo evokes the Caribbean archipelago but also refers to game boards that can feature multiple exhibitions, called ekspo in Martiniquan and Haitian Creole. The Caribbean version of LiZellBa will exist both physically and digitally, starting with a collection of works by around fifteen artists from the Martiniquan art scene.
In March 2023, the three artists Léa Bénétou, Yann Baïzid, and Fanny Martel, who created the original game, will be in residence in Martinique. Accompanied by cultural mediators from La Criée and La Station Culturelle, the trio will collaborate with Martiniquan artists: Jean-Marc Bullet, artist and designer; Arthur Francietta, graphic designer; and Léo Brival, web developer. In September 2023, they will be joined by Max Robenson Vilaire Dortilus, director of the Pyepoudre Cultural Center, along with an invited Haitian artist.
The residency provides an opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise in the production of artworks (between art and craftsmanship), training in exhibition-related professions, and artistic and cultural mediation.
The production of the game, titled in Creole Mèt-an-Mizé, will continue throughout the year, with an expected release in 2024.
The title Mèt-an-Mizé:
Inspired by mèt manioc, an expression in the Antilles referring to the guardian of the traditional know-how of handmade cassava bread (kassav) produced from manioc, it more broadly denotes an expert in a particular field. Mizé is the Creole term for any exhibition space (museum, gallery, etc.), while Anmizé means to have fun or to play.
Mèt-an-Mizé thus conveys multiple meanings: the master, the expert, the exhibition space, and the idea of playfulness. This title encapsulates what we aim to convey through this game: understanding artists' work and grasping the stakes of contemporary art in the Caribbean.
Jean-Marc Bullet, March 2023