I got to know the artist Ali Mongo (1938 - 2023)in 2006 at the famous Café Trieste in North Beach, San Francisco. He was a character, to say the least. A fantastic painter and a great cook. He enjoyed cognac and changed names whenever he felt like it. Many knew him as Sammy. In 2010 he visited me in Berlin and stayed for about a year, later we met again in Tokyo. Ali Mongo was a nomad and sold his paintings and postcards on the road. In Berlin we did an exhibition of his work at the Crystall Ball Gallery, June 4, 2010 - July 9, 2010. For the occasion he made some special mussels earrings. 

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