The Mono Works

The Mono Works is a rare and atypical collection of 50 original drawings by Frédéric Bruly Bouabré that stands apart from the artist’s more familiar, color-rich compositions. Each work in the series measures approximately 13 x 17 cm and retains the unmistakable visual language for which Bouabré is celebrated—naïve linework, symbolic central imagery, and framed inscriptions that merge text and drawing into a unified narrative device. However, unlike the majority of Bouabré’s output, these pieces are executed exclusively in black pen, foregoing the colored pencil accents that typically animate his universe. This monochromatic approach—clearly evidenced in the piece dated 12 June 1988 and titled La Lance du Diable à Trois Pointes ou un Trident—adds a graphic starkness and conceptual weight to the series, heightening its symbolic power while inviting new readings of Bouabré’s spiritual and philosophical themes.

Professionally referred to as The Mono Works, though alternately titled The Pen Series or Bruly in Black in early notes, this body of work offers collectors and institutions a rare glimpse into the artist’s minimalist aesthetic. The absence of color shifts the focus to form, language, and symbolism, reinforcing Bouabré’s underlying commitment to communication and knowledge transmission over mere visual ornamentation. As with his more iconic pieces, each drawing in the series is executed on found cardboard and hand-signed, emphasizing the democratic and accessible nature of his materials. This series presents an exceptional opportunity to engage with Bouabré’s work through a different visual lens—stripped down, direct, and deeply resonant.

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The Mono Works, 50 original drawings on cardboard, hand signed by Frédéric Bruly Bouabré, 1988