ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2024/25
Kossi Efoui, born in Togo in 1962, has been living and writing in France since 1990. His novels are published by Éditions du Seuil, and his plays by Lansman. He splits his time between creating his own works and leading writing workshops. He is actively involved not only in academic settings but also with associations and communities in urban peripheries, hospitals, and prisons. Efoui’s approach to playwriting is unique: he situates his work at the crossroads of textual and three-dimensional art, treating words as materials that transcend their narrative content. His writing weaves together textuality, materiality, and musicality to explore philosophical, political, and anthropological questions. Over the past twenty years, he has collaborated with visual artists and theater professionals—including directors, actors, costume designers, lighting designers, and composers—through his long-standing partnership with the Compagnie Théâtre Inutile. His exploration of the visual dimension of writing reflects his deep interest in the body and how it is represented in postmodern society.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Une magie ordinaire. Seuil, 2023.
- Cantique de l’acacia. Seuil, 2017.
- L’Ombre des choses à venir. Seuil, 2011.
- Solo d’un revenant. Seuil, 2009.
- La Fabrique de cérémonies. Seuil, 2001.
- La Polka. Seuil, 1998.
