Steve Bandoma
Born in 1981 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lives and works in Kinshasa.
Ruling in the Middle of Nowhere, 2015.
About:
Mental Slavery, 2012.
Steve Bandoma describes his work as recycling found objects. He appropriates imagery from contemporary advertising and magazines in order to ‘breathe new life into them’. In his most recent series, the artist creates imagined portraits of the inhabitants of Congo’s sprawling capital Kinshasa. A shapeshifting species of genetic mutations, his images are contemporary embodiments of traditional African gods and fetish objects. Bandoma combines acrylic, watercolour, felt-tip pen, ink, and collage, often on handmade paper to give these works a tangible energy. Splashes of paint and bursts of colour add violence and urgency to his portraits. Inspired by the chaos of daily life and the fast-moving media that make up Kinshasa’s street culture, the artist’s aesthetic approach and choice of materials reflect well the dynamic new artistic trends stemming from Africa.
Je suis mignon, 2014.
Lincoln’s Vision, 2014.
Bandoma’s work has been acquired and exhibited by the Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC) of Jean Pigozzi in Geneva, Switzerland; Museum Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa; Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris, France; and most recently, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) in New Orleans, USA. Recently, Bandoma was included in Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko. The exhibi-tion continues through November 2015 at Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris, France. (Courtesy Jack Bell London/Magnin-A Pais)