Arts for Protecting Environment

The new structure, Py Samuel Dipoko Art Gallery in Bonendale, owned and operated by Py Samuel Dipoko, is far from a hub for decorative purposes. The uniqueness of the gallery is that its artifacts are designed from relics of electronic gadgets, thrown away plastic containers, use of water hyacinth that is a threat to live in the Wouri River and waste material littering the city.

Though he utilizes "useless" material, the end product is always a fine piece, an artifact that has been carefully put together thereby protecting the environment from destruction and pollution. The artists work is mainly to mount and paint bits and pieces of the material against a background made of cloth and attached to a wooden frame.

Dipoko's paintings, with a tilt on plastic arts, explores Douala's varied relationships with the environment, dreams and aspirations also run through the many interactive presentations that showcase more than several different artefacts, cultural materials, and works of art. Douala has always been a place of great diversity, and there has always been new people coming who have changed the culture in order to experience the Sawa culture.

The strength of the art works are in the fact that Cameroon, as a whole, and Douala, in particular, has all of a sudden become a dumping ground for electronic gadgets from the western worlds.