Mateo's installation on the rooftop of TRAMES in Dakar, Senegal, reflects the rich culture and ethos of teraanga, symbolizing hospitality and community. Using paint and stencils, the artist incorporated cultural motifs such as traditional wrestling and fish, creating a vibrant patterned carpet that fosters connection. The communal space, often used for celebrations and rituals, inspired Mateo to move beyond a traditional mural. His work represents an open-air artistic expression of the Senegalese spirit, emphasizing generosity and acceptance as core community values.
Using paint and stencils, the artist incorporated motifs familiar in Senegal culture, like traditional wrestling, bird tracks, fish, and wax fabrics.
Mateo was inspired by a word in the Wolof language that loosely translates to "hospitality" but is also characterized by a much more holistic philosophy of generosity and acceptance.
For hundreds of years, teraanga has shaped communities' openness and exchange with one another, continuing today as an integral and defining facet of the Senegalese way of life.
Rather than painting a wall, I chose to work on the rooftop terrace, a vibrant space used for gatherings, celebrations, and dance rituals.
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