LES FLEURS NE SE TAISENT PAS

a group exhibition curated by Mafoya Glélé Kakaï
from 14 January to 8 March 2026

Opening in the presence of the curator
Tuesday 13 January, 6pm to 8pm

Guided tour by the curator
Thursday, 15 January at 6pm

Performance by Roukiata Ouedraogo
Friday, 6 February at 7 pm

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

‘Les fleurs ne se taisent pas’ (Flowers Do Not Remain Silent) is an art exhibition conceived around the theme of female genital mutilation (FGM) by the feminist artist and lawyer Mafoya Glélé Kakaï from Benin. The exhibition brings together artists whose practices, rooted in African contexts, question violence against women's bodies while opening up spaces for expression, memory and healing. This project is fully in line with the gallery's focus on ‘action’ and ‘intersectionality’ by creating a dialogue between the visual arts, performance and literature as instruments of resistance and collective healing.

The flower, a fragile and universal symbol, runs through the exhibition as a metaphor for the female body: sometimes wounded, sometimes triumphant, but always alive. This motif connects diverse works: painting, mixed media, photography, video, sound installation and performance, where beauty and pain coexist, reminding us that women's memory is also one of struggle and transmission, expressing the deep desire that the cruel practice of FGM will cease, and that our daughters will be able to grow up in safety and dignity. 

The works of Owanto, Aida Silvestri, Mafoya Glélé Kakaï, and Awa Ndiaye anchor the exhibition in a direct confrontation with violence: mutilated vulvas, silent silhouettes, rediscovered voices. 

The creations of Kidist Degaffe, Fatoumata Kouyaté, and Maggy Dago continue this exploration of the body, memory, and rebirth, weaving links between colour, texture, and writing. Finally, Nourrath la Debboslameuse extends this dynamic into performance, making words vibrate as an act of rebellion and self-affirmation.

Thus, ‘Les fleurs ne se taisent pas’ offers a space for resonance and engagement: a place where wounds, bodies and voices come together to say that beauty can heal, that memory can speak, and that once women’s voices have blossomed, they will never be silenced.

The performance of Roukiata Ouedraogo on 6 February 2026, International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation, will be the highlight of this exhibition, giving voice to women who transform pain into living art.

Mafoya Glélé Kakaï, Curator