Artist: Casimir Zinga
Medium: Carved wood (framed sculptural artwork)
Dimensions: approx. 76 cm H x 60 cm W
Year: Signed and dated to 2018

A rare signed and dated work by Gabonese artist Casimir Zinga, whose sculptural wood reliefs fuse tradition with a visionary narrative. 

This artwork is a meticulous composition of locally sourced Central African woods, each chosen for its unique tone, texture, and cultural significance:

• Black Ebony wood: used to carve the eyes and mouth. 

• Izombé wood: selected for the base of the eyes and for the lips, providing a warm undertone and refined detail.

• Wenge wood: a richly veined dark timber used throughout the work - 
  • for the frame itself,
  • the base of the face,
  • the base of the mouth,
  • the small beard (chin),
  • and the upper and lower eyelids.

The background of the piece is textured with wood dust, applied with great care.

• Black Ebony dust is used to outline the sculpted face, giving it visual prominence.

• Bilinga dust (from a golden-orange wood) tints the remaining frame background, creating a warm and earthy visual base.

La Vision du Futur is a captivating meditation on perspective, memory, and identity. The sculpted face at its centre, simultaneously playful and wise, invites the viewer to look both inward and ahead. Its wide, protruding eyes, carved in deep ebony, give a sense of alertness and wonder. The use of contrasting woods and curved, organic lines creates a harmonious balance between joy and solemnity, between rooted tradition and forward movement. This is a face that smiles gently, but it also observes. The earth-toned background, textured with natural wood dust, grounds the composition in the tactile reality of Gabonese soil, suggesting that no vision of the future can exist without connection to the land and its stories. The piece is intimate in scale, yet expansive in emotion, a reminder that the future is not a distant concept, but something shaped every day through art, memory, and cultural continuity.

Casimir Zinga has been sculpting for over 40 years. His works, known for their intricate detailing and cultural depth, are nearly impossible to find outside Gabon. La Vision du Futur is one of the few documented pieces currently available internationally, if not the only one, a unique opportunity for collectors and cultural institutions alike.

Please contact us for more information or to express interest.