Kwiyichouo: Immersive sculptural installation with augmented reality.
“Kwiyichouo” is an immersive sculptural installation created by Eric Takukam and first presented at the Institut français du Cameroun in Douala as part of Novembre Numérique.
The work is currently exhibited at Galerie Annie Kadji in Bonapriso, affirming its place within Cameroon’s contemporary and digital art landscape.
Through this creation, the artist offers a poetic and engaged reflection on the sacred interconnection between humanity, nature, and industrial progress, inviting audiences to rethink our relationship with the environment and technology.
Immersion into a Living and Symbolic Ecosystem
Kwiyichouo: Immersive sculptural installation with augmented reality.
Kwiyichouo immerses the viewer in an ecosystem where natural elements intertwine, nourish one another, and coexist.
The work is not merely observed, it is experienced, felt, and designed to awaken consciousness.
Symbolic Components of the Artwork
● The TrombHomme (steel):
An emblematic figure invented by Takukam from a simple paperclip brought home by his son. Formed from a single wire with two human ends, it embodies contemporary humanity, unity, love, and the interconnectedness of life. It also stands as a visual manifesto for neurodiversity and ecology.
● The stone (the head):
A symbol of primordial nature, ancestry, and stability, reminding us that nature is the source of all things.
● The macabo leaf (the protective hat):
Traditionally used in villages as a natural umbrella, it represents protection, recycling, and ecological responsibility.
● Water:
A fluid and vital element flowing from the earth to the human figure, reminding us that caring for the planet means caring for ourselves.
● Palm oil on the stone:
A ritual gesture rooted in the Bamiléké’s culture, symbolizing offering and respect toward nature.
Themes Explored
● Nature and environment
● Progress and industrialization
● Ancestry and spirituality
● Art and culture
● Technology and innovation
Message and Artistic Intention
“Progress must not crush nature, but support it.”
In Kwiyichouo, the TrombHomme carries the macabo leaf on his head, as in the village, as a sign of protection toward nature. In return, the stone, nature, offers him the vital elements necessary for well-being.
This circular relationship echoes the Ubuntu philosophy: I am because you are. We are because our environment is.
Through this work, Eric Takukam affirms a deep conviction: art can heal, reconcile, and awaken consciousness.
Kwiyichouo (Symbiosis) is a call for a new pact between humanity, technology, and nature, an artistic manifesto for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
