Georges Adeagbo was born in Cotonou, Benin in 1942, and studied law and business administration in France. Adeagbo returned to Benin in 1971 and still lives and works there. His works have been displayed in numerous solo and group shows at such venues as Cotonou's Centre Culturel Francais; Palais of the United Nations in Geneva; and London's Serpentine Gallery.

Adeagbo was the recipient of the 47th Venice Biennale's Prize of Honor in 1999.

Georges Adeagbo's room-size installations are diaristic collages of the artist's philosophical inquiry into social and personal associations evoked by everyday objects. Adeagbo has accumulated an archive of documents, magazines, paintings, photographs, and objects on meditative walks in Contonou, Benin. He then writes about the significance of the objects he collects and often includes these observations in the installations.

By carefully arranging and combining the materials, he creates complex and multi-layered conceptual and visual relationships about the subject of independence as well as the exhibition itself. His archival practice and materials are inextricably linked to the site of presentation, with additions from each of the exhibition locations including Munich, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. For this installation, he explored second-hand shops around New York and incorporated local items.

Photo by Eileen Costas