Serge Mouangue on aesthetic dialogue, the spirituality of design and transcending cultural boundaries

In this episode of Out of the Clouds, host Anne Mühlethaler welcomes artist and designer Serge Mouangue for a rare and intimate conversation about his remarkable creative journey. Born in Cameroon and now based between France and Japan, Serge has built an artistic practice that explores the deep cultural resonances between West Africa and Japan through his Wafrica project.

The conversation begins with Serge sharing his early life in Cameroon, where he explains the incredible linguistic diversity of his homeland through a striking example - counting from one to ten in his mother's and father's dialects, which sound completely different despite being from villages only 100 kilometers apart. He describes himself as a dreamy child with endless imagination who, growing up in government housing in France without many material possessions, would imagine all the things that were missing - vacuum cleaners, appliances, furniture - developing his ability to give shape to dreams through drawing.

Serge's path led him from interior design to industrial design, and eventually to Japan through his work in automotive design at Nissan. It was there, in 2006, that he discovered unexpected parallels between Japanese and West African cultures: complex hierarchy systems, animistic spirituality that sees souls in all things, and deep reverence for elders. These discoveries sparked what would become his signature artistic exploration.

The heart of the conversation centers on Serge's Wafrica project - kimonos made with African fabrics that blur the boundaries of identity and belonging. He shares a moving story about a Japanese customer who, wearing one of his kimonos, said she felt like she was "wearing world heritage" and no longer felt bound by the traditional submissive role associated with the garment. His other works include the Blood Brothers - African pygmy stools lacquered with Japanese urushi (described poetically as "African wood covered by the blood of a Japanese tree") - and installations like the Seven Sisters, exploring women's secrets and shared experiences.

Throughout the interview, Serge reveals his unique creative process, emphasizing how he "puts feelings first" and trusts his intuition "literally a hundred percent." He describes holding stories in his imagination for years - sometimes six or seven - before they're ready to be born into physical form. His deep relationship with sound emerges as central to his practice, from recording strangers' stories in Australia as a young man to his ongoing fascination with everything from Pygmy hunting songs to the sound of children playing.

The conversation also touches on profound themes of identity and belonging. As Serge notes, "cultural identity is not a given. It's a journey. It's something that you build through time." His work ultimately transcends the specific dialogue between West Africa and Japan to speak to anyone who has felt at home somewhere unexpected or questioned where they're truly from.

Anne and Serge discuss his advice for those with dreams: acknowledging the risks while emphasizing persistence, hard work, and the importance of luck - which he notes comes to those who "put everything around it so that it happens." When asked about his favorite word, Serge chooses "transcend," explaining how it encompasses both transformation and the spiritual dimension he seeks in all his work.

A deeply thoughtful and poetic conversation with an artist who rarely gives interviews, making this intimate discussion all the more precious.

Selected Links from Episode:

• Serge Mouague’s website: wafrica.art
• Akaa Design Fair (October 24-26, Paris): akaafair.com

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