Through his work Evariste Maïga is interested in exploring tensions between politics and poetics, form and content, plurality and singularity. His work is inspired by his observation of objects, rituals, behaviours, locations and cultures. The work addresses cultural and political issues, but it is his choice and method to not speak directly but instead to employ poetry and metaphor. Although he uses physical objects, Maïga’s work is idea driven, deviating objects from their original purpose to serve the expression of ideas.

Maïga invests energy and attention in ideas and objects that may seem unimportant or peripheral, such as plumbing parts, industrial containers and sub-floor levelling compound. He tests the potential of these overlooked things to see how differently they might ‘speak’ or behave and to what extent they might be able to generate a new paradigm. Maïga is very interested in small gestures and in the process of trying hard to achieve something through repetition and rehearsal; pretension and acting are therefore central themes in his work.