PROFILES

When South-African born Nomaza Nongqunga Coupez finished her biology studies, she started work in the medical sector. It was a world she knew well. But everything changed when she met her future husband and settled in southeast France. Travelling around the region she saw its potential and the idea of Undiscovered Canvas was born. “It’s an agency I founded in 2009 to spotlight contemporary African artists from anywhere between Niger and South Africa. It mainly mounts exhibitions in Europe,” she says. Her work attracted notice, and in 2017 President Macron invited her to join the 11-strong Conseil Présidentiel pour l’Afrique, tasked with keeping the President informed about African current affairs.  Nomaza, who lives in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, now devotes all her time to her agency and  the NGO she has set up to organise residencies in the South of France for women artists. She was able to start with funds from British sponsors, but she is also looking for local sponsors on the Riviera.  “We hosted Lulama Wolf In 2021, in partner-ship with Antibes city council. Lulama is interested in vernacular architecture and did some amazing paintings using local sand. Then Lesego Seoketsa came to Mandelieu and created her Awakeness series there. She says the place taught her that she can take care of herself rather than always obeying the injunction to be a strong Black woman.” Awakeness will be on show at the Soshiro Gallery in London in February 2023”. Meanwhile, Nomaza is showing work by Giggs Kgole at the Casamanara architecture studio in Monaco. “We invited him to do ceramics in Vallauris. He has since gone back to Rome but is still working with clay,” says a delighted Nomaza.
* From October 13 to November 30, 2022,
Avenue Princeses Grace, Monaco

By Tanja Stojanov