Des traces comme legs

Des traces comme legs (“Traces as a Legacy”) is a sculptural work that uses shoes as a powerful symbol for the anonymity and untold stories of street children. Through abstract assemblies of shoes, the artist gives tangible form to lives that are often overlooked and invisible. Des traces comme legs emphasizes the ceremonial and commemorative role of shoes, as traces left by humanity that help build a legacy for future generations.

Achille Adonon is a visual artist from Benin whose practice has been shaped by mentorship from his elders, personal research in books, and hands-on experience in studios during art residencies. His multidisciplinary approach, which includes sculpture, installation, drawing, painting, performance, and photography, engages with themes of identity, invisibility, and the fragility of human existence.

At the heart of his practice lies the symbolic use of shoes. Discarded and forgotten, they become metaphors for abandoned children—figures Adonon seeks to rescue, care for, and give voice to. In installations of all sizes, sneakers, boots, moccasins, ballerinas, and sandals are recycled and transformed into lyrical, evocative compositions. Through them, the artist critiques consumerism and neglect, while leaving space for hope and renewal. He suggests that if the lives behind these shoes could be reunited, perhaps some of the violence that scars our world might be prevented.
Since 2021, Adonon has expanded his practice with a photographic series he calls “photographic documents”, visual essays reflecting on decaying environments and the complex relationship between humans and nature. In 2022, he was awarded Best Sculptor at the Dakar Biennale.