JONATHAN VATUNGA
Painter | DR Congo / Canada
Jonathan Vatunga’s work originates in the observation of the daily struggles. It reflects a society where, as he says, “men are destroyed by men”.
PORTRAIT
Jonathan Vatunga (1996), graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinsasha, DRC in 2017, received early recognition for his candid paintings and collages in his own unique style and symbolism. Originating from a society with many conflicts and issues, Vatunga is deeply committed to exposing his observations of daily struggles in society and finding new hope and solutions. In the world of Vatunga “men are destroyed by men”, societies are fragile and disintegrated, full of injustice, with many people being displaced and suffering. Sometimes bordering the revolutionary, openly criticizing political leaders and situations, Vatunga also seeks to create hope, beauty and joy.
Vatunga typically presents a colourful and dynamic world in constant transformation by depicting its people. He forms his different characters by superimposed lines, disintegrating or decomposing under the pressure of society. He often uses collages of photographs an/or strong symbolism to give meaning to his characters and uses glasses to reflect their inner visions. He deconstructs the figure of the human body by showing the life that is being reconstructed, a story that is being rewritten.
Over the past few years, Vatunga has been participating internationally in many exhibitions in DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South-Africa, France, Netherlands and Hong Kong, featured at AKAA Paris 2021 and has been auctioned in Brussels and Paris.
Jonathan Vatunga (1996), graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinsasha, DRC in 2017, received early recognition for his candid paintings and collages in his own unique style and symbolism. Originating from a society with many conflicts and issues, Vatunga is deeply committed to exposing his observations of daily struggles in society and finding new hope and solutions. In the world of Vatunga “men are destroyed by men”, societies are fragile and disintegrated, full of injustice, with many people being displaced and suffering. Sometimes bordering the revolutionary, openly criticizing political leaders and situations, Vatunga also seeks to create hope, beauty and joy.
Vatunga typically presents a colourful and dynamic world in constant transformation by depicting its people. He forms his different characters by superimposed lines, disintegrating or decomposing under the pressure of society. He often uses collages of photographs an/or strong symbolism to give meaning to his characters and uses glasses to reflect their inner visions. He deconstructs the figure of the human body by showing the life that is being reconstructed, a story that is being rewritten.
Over the past few years, Vatunga has been participating internationally in many exhibitions in DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South-Africa, France, Netherlands and Hong Kong, featured at AKAA Paris 2021 and has been auctioned in Brussels and Paris.
WORKS
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CREDENTIALS
Solo & duo exhibitions
2021
- Reflux (duo exhibition with Bouvy Enkobo), OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
Group exhibitions
2023
- #Faces, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2021
- AKAA Paris, via OpenArtExchange, Paris, France
- Lille ArtUp!, via OpenArtExchange, Lille, France
2020
- Discovery Art Fair, via OpenArtExchange, Frankfurt, Germany
- Stanley’s auction, Brussels, Belgium
- Roots, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands Auction Rennes Enchères, Rennes, France Art Capital, contemporary art fair, Grand Palais, Paris, France Hello 2020!, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2019
- Darkness rising, Eclectica Contemporary Gallery, Capetown, South-Africa
- Exhibition at Oda Fine Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
- St-ART Strasbourg, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Strasbourg, France
- Mulhouse Art Fair, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Mulhouse, France
- New World exhibiton OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
- Congo Eyes exhibition at Afric’art Gallery Hong Kong (CHINA)
2018
- Discovery exhibition at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa Exhibition Auctions, Lisanga ya BIKOLO Gala
- TASOK, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Gala Evening Exhibition, Ijaia Gallery ODE Africa Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition Immigration and Integration, Dakar Biennial OFF, Senegal
- Foundation exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Regards exhibition at Mechand Bank TMB Trust Bank, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition FARA at the foundation the house of the artist (Cote D’Ivore)
- Exhibition Source of Talent, 75 years of the Académies des Beaux-Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
2017
- Exhibition Open Door at the Embassy of Canada, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition Auctions, Elengi ya kokela TASOK Gala, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition, Sculpt our dreams Second edition at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
- Exhibition crossing at the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
2016
- Art and Environment Exhibition at Trust Mechand Bank TMB Bank, Kinshasa Exhibition Plural Dimension at Wallonia Center Brussels, Kinshasa, DR Congo
2015
- Open exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Emergence 2 exhibition at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa. Exhibition, Passion of art at Pullman Grand hotel of Kinshasa, DR Congo
2014
- Emergence exhibition at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa, DR Congo
Artistic residence
2019
- OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2018
Village Assouinde, Ivory Coast
Collections
- Jean Pigozzi, Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC), Switzerland
- Thierry Lemoine Private Collection, France
- Moreau Family Private Collection, France
- Private Collection of Michel Champregne, France
- Private Collection of Wirth Hortana, Haiti
- Mboh Elango Private Collection, USA
- Private Collection of Staines Couple, USA
- Private collection of Matthew Steuer, USA
- Private collection of Elisabeth Bitliff, Ghana
- Private Collection of Christopher the Younger, Belgiu
- Steve Vermer Private Collection, Belgium
- Private collection of Jamil, Brazil
- Piette Private Collection, Hong Kong
- Private Collection by Rene Houton Miles, Hungary
- Ginnette Private Collection, Canad
- Gérard Lokossou Private Collection, Ivory Coast
- Private Collection of Othnan, Ivory Coast
- Private collection of Sina Hanke, DR Congo
- Rawbank Private Collection, DR Congo
2021
- Reflux (duo exhibition with Bouvy Enkobo), OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2023
- #Faces, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2021
- AKAA Paris, via OpenArtExchange, Paris, France
- Lille ArtUp!, via OpenArtExchange, Lille, France
2020
- Discovery Art Fair, via OpenArtExchange, Frankfurt, Germany
- Stanley’s auction, Brussels, Belgium
- Roots, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands Auction Rennes Enchères, Rennes, France Art Capital, contemporary art fair, Grand Palais, Paris, France Hello 2020!, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2019
- Darkness rising, Eclectica Contemporary Gallery, Capetown, South-Africa
- Exhibition at Oda Fine Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
- St-ART Strasbourg, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Strasbourg, France
- Mulhouse Art Fair, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Mulhouse, France
- New World exhibiton OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
- Congo Eyes exhibition at Afric’art Gallery Hong Kong (CHINA)
2018
- Discovery exhibition at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa Exhibition Auctions, Lisanga ya BIKOLO Gala
- TASOK, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Gala Evening Exhibition, Ijaia Gallery ODE Africa Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition Immigration and Integration, Dakar Biennial OFF, Senegal
- Foundation exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Regards exhibition at Mechand Bank TMB Trust Bank, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition FARA at the foundation the house of the artist (Cote D’Ivore)
- Exhibition Source of Talent, 75 years of the Académies des Beaux-Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
2017
- Exhibition Open Door at the Embassy of Canada, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition Auctions, Elengi ya kokela TASOK Gala, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Exhibition, Sculpt our dreams Second edition at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
- Exhibition crossing at the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
2016
- Art and Environment Exhibition at Trust Mechand Bank TMB Bank, Kinshasa Exhibition Plural Dimension at Wallonia Center Brussels, Kinshasa, DR Congo
2015
- Open exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Emergence 2 exhibition at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa. Exhibition, Passion of art at Pullman Grand hotel of Kinshasa, DR Congo
2014
- Emergence exhibition at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa, DR Congo
2019
- OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2018
Village Assouinde, Ivory Coast
- Jean Pigozzi, Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC), Switzerland
- Thierry Lemoine Private Collection, France
- Moreau Family Private Collection, France
- Private Collection of Michel Champregne, France
- Private Collection of Wirth Hortana, Haiti
- Mboh Elango Private Collection, USA
- Private Collection of Staines Couple, USA
- Private collection of Matthew Steuer, USA
- Private collection of Elisabeth Bitliff, Ghana
- Private Collection of Christopher the Younger, Belgiu
- Steve Vermer Private Collection, Belgium
- Private collection of Jamil, Brazil
- Piette Private Collection, Hong Kong
- Private Collection by Rene Houton Miles, Hungary
- Ginnette Private Collection, Canad
- Gérard Lokossou Private Collection, Ivory Coast
- Private Collection of Othnan, Ivory Coast
- Private collection of Sina Hanke, DR Congo
- Rawbank Private Collection, DR Congo