Eddy Masumbuku
Painter | DR Congo
Masumbuku (1965-2024) created surrealist works reflecting on the interior state of the human mind. His works question the erosion of human values and call for a return to human purity and wisdom. Combining mixed painting techniques and collage of newspaper clippings, he defined his esoteric abstract portraits in layered greying subdued colors, placing them in an estranging brightly colored world. ⠀
In memoriam
We received the sad, sad news, that one of our Congolese artists, Eddy Masumbuku, has passed away. I still cannot believe this happened. Just a few months ago, we were in your studio in Kinshasa, watching how you used the sun to slowly create your works over time, talking about new works you were going to make. We were at your house, happily re-united with your works, having fun trying out your bamboo costumes. You were not only a great authentic artist, one of the true mastodonts of the artistic scene in Kinshasa, who influenced so many artists. There are many who could elaborate on that more eloquently than me. To me you were also a grand, autonomous, daring, free spirit, not touched by fame, locked by success or hindered by ego. You were the most humble, sincerely kind and generous soul, who had this ability to still connect to that inner child, to question the world around you, to observe the interior, to reflect, to see things outside the box. When we approached you back in 2020 in the middle of Corona time, scheduling to re-open after 5 months mandatory closure with that first group exhibition hampered by limitations, you trusted your works to us without hesitation, to create new hope in difficult times. There will be no more new works, my friend, no new concepts, no funny encouraging stickers anymore. Thank you so much for everything. We will cherish those shared memories and the work you left behind. A big, big bow from all of us at OpenArtExchange in bidding you a heartfelt farewell. Be blessed wherever you are now. Our sincere condoleances go to those who are left behind.
By Joke Bakker-Jansen
Kingsley Ogwara (1975) studied his bachelors in Fine and Applied Arts at Delta State University in Abrake, Nigeria and resides and works from Luxembourg, where he is a well recognised painter and sculptor. His paintings and sculptures in clay, stone, wood or metal consist of organic concave and convex forms, mostly (semi-)abstract and are inspired by African or European images and symbols.They center about human transformation and connection, about the freedom and harmony that can be found in the masses. As such they rather express a state of mind than an extensive narrative.
Ogwara: “In our globalized world with its many issues, we each struggle individually to live our lives in a meaningful way. When we grow up, we build up our defenses, often based on fear and distrust, resulting from the inevitable hardships that life brings sometimes. However, life also brings unexpected compassion and new windows, and each hardship brings new insights, makes us reflect and grow. We all need to mature, overcome fear and distrust and open up our defenses to connect to each other, dare to be vulnerable to give and receive love. My works are about this transformation and interconnectedness”
His paintwork with knives in oil and acrylic on canvas are characterized by pointilistic abstract orchestrations of colors and rich textures, which seem to take on the form of masses of people. Ogwara typically hides his initial images behind these thick pointilistic pastiche layers, which creates a lot of depth and suggestion. In his latest Icon-series, he experiments with adding some figurative element by allowing the initial portraits to shine through.
Ogwara has participated in many group- and solo exhibitions, amongst others in Luxemburg, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Austria. He was awarded amongst others the prestigious bi-annual Prix Pierre Werner for his paintings as best artist in Luxembourg in 2016. At the Luxembourg Art Week 2019, he was nominated again with his sculptures for the Grand-Duc Adolphe award and in 2022 again for the Prix Pierre Werner, which granted him the titular membership of CAL as the first African member in its history. Most recently, he showed for 6 months at the blockbuster exhibition “Gospel” at the historical Catharijne Convent museum in Utrecht (Netherlands). His paintings are included in collections all over the world.
