africanah.org

Arena for Contemporary African, African-American and Caribbean Art

Kura Shomali, DRC

Kura Shomali Cowboy2011

 

Kura Shomali

Born in 1979, Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo
Lives and works in Kinsahasa.

 Cowboy, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About:

In 2001, Kura Shomali interrupted his medical studies, and went to the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa where he took part of the creation of the group EZA.

KuraShomaliUntitled2014

Untitled, 2014.

KuraShomaliUntitled2014b

Untitled, 2014.

He creates works on paper in which he mixes with charcoal daring, ball pen, gouache, ink, marker and collage that give the texture and the unique aspect to his work. His first drawings, made in a kind of “emergency” are inspired by the Kinshasa bubbling and magazines that will circulate from hand to hand. His work is a reflection of the chaotic megalopolis where he lives and that he “digests” as he explains himself. In his most recent works, Kura Shomali appropriates images of well known African photographers and artists that he interprets with humor.

Kura Shomali Les zazous de mon quartier2013

Les zazous de mon quartier, 2013.

He also makes puppets from recycled materials, that he stages on videos and makes talk in order to expose corruption and conflicts that plagues his country. (tex website Magnin-A, Paris)