Congo Stars

22.09.2018-27.01.2019


Opening: 22.09.2018, 11 am

Congo Stars takes place as part of steirischerherbst'18.
 

Curated by: Sammy Baloji, Bambi Ceuppens, Fiston Mwanza Mujila, Günther Holler-Schuster and Barbara Steiner
Co-Curator: Alexandra Trost

About the exhibition

The exhibition Congo Stars shows popular painting created between the 1960s and today, as well as works in other media. In cooperation with the Royal Museum for Central Africa Tervuren, Kunsthalle Tübingen, Iwalewahaus in Bayreuth, and PICHA in Lubumbashi, Kunsthaus Graz will display works by around 70 Congolese artists living in Paris, Brussels, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.

 

The book Tram 83, written by the Lubumbashi-born and Graz-based author Fiston Mwanza Mujila, served as a conceptual starting point for the exhibition. In it, he describes an imaginary place that, while based on the (harsh) social reality of Congolese cities, could in fact be almost anywhere. In the exhibition, divided into six chapters (“street”, “bar”, “home”, “stars”, “spirituality”, “exploitation”), real and imaginary places and spaces that function as generators of community and identity are intertwined, condensing moments of fiction. The individual chapters are not separate from one another, but form a continuous narrative, being interconnected and consolidated through recurring motifs and themes. Alongside works of art, a timeline provides information on the history of key events and contextualises the works on display. The accumulation of diverse material and a range of visual levels are used to create an almost overwhelming density, reminiscent of the density of a Congolese city.

 

Essential for the decision to show Congo Stars at Kunsthaus Graz are the sometimes surprising historical and current relations between Styria, Austria and Congo. The connections and interdependencies are multifacetted and extend far back—from educational programmes in the 1960s to the decades of teaching by two Austrian professors at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa to the activities of the writer Fiston Mwanza Mujila who lives in Graz today. Important Congolese artists such as Chéri Samba and Tshibumba Kanda Matulu exhibited in Graz in the 1990s, and there are also three important Austrian collections (the Ethno-Medicine collection / Weltmuseum Vienna; the Horvath Collection for Political Art, Linz; the Peter Weihs collection, Kukmirn), which —in addition to lenders from Brussels and Paris—made important works available for the exhibition Congo Stars.

 

Congo Stars is not a “national exhibition” or even a showcase for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The title conjures up the star in the flag and alludes to the changing political systems and regimes—because not only the name of today’s Democratic Republic of Congo, but also the national flags have been modified, depending on the state doctrine. The title also refers to popular culture, to local and international stars and heroes, and, beyond that, to literally reaching for the stars. Zaire, the state’s name between 1971 and 1997, was able to afford an ambitious space programme. The many utopian, futuristic-looking representations by the artists also ultimately speak of a longing for a social space that is positively occupied—both territorially and temporally in an “outside” space. Ultimately, “Congo” is projection screen, imagination, dysfunctional state and contested territory in equal measure.


The exhibition will be shown in Kunsthaus Graz from 22.09.2018 to 27.01.2019 and Kunsthalle Tübingen from 09.03.2019 bis 30.06.2019.
Funded by the TURN Fund of the German Federal Cultural Foundation.

Programme

Mi 07.11.

10:00-17:00

Event

> Kunsthaus Graz

With works by

Abis, Alfi Alfa, Sammy Baloji, Gilbert Banza Nkulu, Chéri Benga, Bodo, Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo, Burozi, Dominique Bwalya Mwando, Chéri Cherin, Trésor Cherin, Djilatendo, Ekunde, Sam Ilus, Jean Kamba, Lady Kambulu, Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, Kasongo, Jean Mukendi Katambayi, Aundu Kiala, J.P. Kiangu, Bodys Isek Kingelez, Ange Kumbi, Hilaire Balu Kuyangiko, Londe, Albert et Antoinette Lubaki, Gosette Lubondo, Ernest Lungieki, George Makaya Lusavuvu, Tinda Lwimba, Michèle Magema, Maurice Mbikayi, Maman Masamba, Matanda, Mbuëcky Jumeaux, JP Mika, Mega Mingiedi Tunga, Moke, Moke-Fils, Gedeon Ndonda, Nkaz Mav, Vincent Nkulu, Vuza Ntoko, Chéri Samba, SAPINart, Monsengo Shula, Sim Simaro, Maître SYMS, Tambwe, Tshibumba Kanda Matulu, Pathy Tshindele Kapinga, Tuur Van Balen & Revital Cohen and many more.

In cooperation with the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, the Kunsthalle Tübingen, the Iwalewahaus in Bayreuth and PICHA in Lubumbashi.


In the middle of preparations for Congo Stars, the medical anthropologist and doctor Armin Prinz, one of the most important experts on Congolese art, passed away.
The exhibition is also dedicated to his memory.

 

Gallery

In the frame of

 


Funded by the TURN Fund of the
German Federal Cultural Foundation:

 

Kunsthaus Graz

Lendkai 1
8020 Graz, Österreich
T +43-316/8017-9200
info@kunsthausgraz.at

 

Opening Hours


Tue-Sun, public holidays 10am - 6pm

Guided Tours
Please visit our calendar.
Guided tours on advance notice

Kunsthauscafé
Mon-Thurs 9am-12pm
Fri, Sat 9am-2am
Sun 9am - 8pm
Snackkarte
info@kunsthauscafe.co.at
T: +43-316/714 957

 

24th/25th December 2023