Digital illustration, digitally created with the assistance of artificial intelligence, finalised by the artist. Pigment print on art paper or canvas (depending on the presentation mode).
The Matrix of Memory aligns with the theme "The World in Multiple Crises: Art as a Catalyst for Change" by addressing a silent yet profound crisis: the loss of cultural and identity landmarks. In the face of contemporary upheavals, this work proposes viewing women — or feminine energy — as a living matrix of memory, a space for transmission between tradition and modernity.
The central female figure embodies collective memory. She holds a cracked pottery vessel, symbolising a long-standing heritage that is fragile yet still alive. The crack does not merely represent rupture; it also signifies an opening through which memory can transform and continue to exist.
The piece revolves around four essential qualities of memory: fragmented, fragile, sacred, and transmitted. Each is represented by a symbol inspired by African cultures. The pottery fragments evoke a dispersed memory shaped by history and social transformations. The cracked calabash signifies the vulnerability of traditional knowledge in the face of time and forgetfulness. The spiral symbolises the sacred and cyclical nature of memory, linking the living to ancestors. The wavy line reflects transmitted speech, stories, and knowledge passed down through generations.
The background features a repetitive pattern inspired by African decorative traditions. This network of shapes depicts the invisible density of collective memory, woven by successive generations.
Through this work, the artist affirms that memory is not merely a relic of the past but an active force capable of reconstructing contemporary identity. Here, the woman becomes the passage between yesterday and tomorrow, between inheritance and invention.
Cédric Agokeng is a young enthusiast passionate about arts and new information and communication technologies (ICT). Based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, he is a Master’s student in Art History at the University of Yaoundé I. He develops an artistic practice at the intersection of cultural research and contemporary creation. His work explores the relationships between memory, identity, and modernity through forms inspired by African traditions.
Alongside his artistic pursuits, he works in graphic design and leads visual creation projects for local and international clients. He is particularly interested in promoting African cultural heritage through contemporary approaches.
His works aim to build bridges between ancient knowledge and current artistic expressions, where art becomes a tool for transmission and social transformation.