"Congo Stars" exhibition: Congolese art from five decades
An art exhibition in the Germany city Tübingen is showcasing works by Congolese artists since the 1960s. Until the end of June, visitors will take an impressive journey through the real and imaginary places of the Congo.
The image of a prosperous Congo and hope, 2006
In this painting, titled "L'image d'un Congo prospère et d'espoir" the artist, Makenge Mamungwa, alias SAPINart, has a vision of what his future home would look like. Although the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is rich in natural resources, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. But the artistic scene, on the other hand, shows a thriving and prosperous country.
Marching against HIV/AIDS
Cheri Samba is one of the stars of Congolese art. He founded the "Zaire School of Popular Painting" in Kinshasa and has taken part in major international exhibitions since 1989. Through his works, he shows how he interacts with Congolese in their everyday life - from nightlife that features mainly music, to poverty, exploitation, and disease such as AIDS (French acronym "SIDA").
Article 15, 1992
Bayangu Mayala, known as Maitre SYMS, learned screen printing and portraiture at Cheri Samba's art school before opening his own studio in 1977. He also devotes himself to the everyday concerns of the Congolese. in his piece "Article 15" he is refering to a popular Congolese joke, which, according to Article 15 of the Constitution states that everyone must take care of themselves.
Nganda Tika Muana, 1992
Monsengo Kejwamfi, "Moke", is a self-taught painter. Today, he is one of the internationally best-known promoters of Congolese art. He sees himself as a "painter journalist". Many of his works show the typical beard-busting brand in Kinshasa, in which the mutual dependence of money and love in a patriarchal society is never concealed.
Satellite King, 2012
Monsengo Shula began painting murals and commercial art as the assistant to his cousin Moke at the age of fifteen. "Roi satellite" refers to Zaire's short-lived but ambitious space program under Mobutu in the 1970s. Shulas "Afronauts", orbiting in colorful space suits, represent a future characterized by progress and prosperity.
Mami Wata, 1962
One of the oldest paintings at the exhibition is by Kayembe F. The mermaid-like hybrid being is always accompanied by a snake and is considered a seducer as well as the cause of suffering. Ironically, with her fair complexion, the mermaid symbolically represents the pursuit of prosperity and a life of luxury.
An Imaginary Trip, # 11, 2006
Inspired by her father's photographic work, Gosette Lubondo devoted herself to studio photography while studying graphic design at the Académie des Beaux-Arts de Kinshasa. In her photo series "Imaginary Trip" she deals with the need to travel (by train), which has always been very difficult in DR Congo due to the lack of connections.
Los Galacticos, 2010
Joseph Kinkonda, (Cheri Cherin) also studied at the "Académie des Beaux-Arts de Kinshasa". Among his teachers was the Austrian artist Peter Weihs. In the 1970s they arose the "peinture populaire", a popular form of art features known personalities and villains alike. Cheri Cherin uses humor as one way for art lovers to critically reflect on the country's problems.
Ko bungisa mbala mibale (Second Loss), 2017
Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga founded M'Pongo studio with like-minded artists in 2011. In the series "Perte de repères" (Loss of References) he deals with the period after independence when there was loss of identity and the economic consequences of deindustrialization. His works and those of other artists will be on display at the Tübingen art gallery until the end of June.