Kevin Osepa
b. 1994 Willemstad, Curaçao. Currently based in Utrecht, the Netherlands
Yunan di Skuridatfrom, from the series Mester Blousé, 2016. ©Kevin Osepa, Kahmann Gallery
About:
Kevin Osepa’s work revolves around his identity and the identity of Afro-Caribbean youth in a post-colonial world. Using different experimental techniques he creates (colorful) visual stories that explore themes such as Religion, African diaspora and Family.
Alta, from the Mester Blousé Series, copyright Osepa & Kahmann Gallery
Mester Blousé
Two mothers are speaking about ones beautiful looking baby: “You have to rub him with laundry blue; “Mester blousé” she said. With real indigo laundry bluing compound.
– Brenneker, P (1975). Part 7 Sambumbu Willemstad, Curacao
In ‘Mester blousé’ examines the photographer Kevin Osepa how his identity was formed by the spiritual beliefs, rituals and culture of his island. His emigration from Curaçao to the Netherlands at a young age has changed him not only as a person but also as a visual artist; the shift in his view of the world was tremendous.
Disclin, from the Mester Blousé Sries, 2016, copyright Osepa & Kahmann Gallery.
Within this project he uses the symbolism of the culture of his island that he grew up with to tell the history of him and his family. As a man of colour who grew up in a religious and ‘brua practicing’ environment. Whilst exploring intense themes such as colonialism, the afrocaribiën, diaspora and religion, ‘Mester blousé tells a story where reality and magic can coexist without prejudice or interference.
Kada palu tin su doño, from Mester Blousé Series, 2016© Kevin Osepa & Kahmann Gallery.
* Brua is a collective word for spirituality, superstition, charlatanism, spirit leather, scaremongering and rituals with secrecy. Which is mainly practiced on Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire.
