BIOGRAPHY
THONTON KABEYA
(b. 1983, Democratic Republic of Congo)
Kabeya challenges his medium of paint and canvas, pursuing new and experimental ways to create texture, depth and balance of colour. He glues layers of canvas together which he then cuts, carves and sculpts before painting. He finishes the work with transfers from newspaper, carefully positioned to indicate the three-dimensional qualities of fabric. He then carefully applies a deep brown walnut powder (an old method of staining wooden furniture) to render skin, as well as to balance the overall tonality of the work.
Inspired by architecture and design, Kabeya's practice seeks balance in composition, line and colour. He creates portraits of people and cities alike, bustling street scenes and tender exchanges between individuals. His recent works have focused on rhumba dancing, inspired by the dance studios and clubs frequented by the artist. The rhumba music is of Cuban origin, Cuba having an important historical link to Africa through the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and the rhumba dance gained enormous popularity in the Congo during the 1960's and 70's – in recognition of its cultural significance, the Congolese Rhumba was recently added to UNESCOs intangible heritage list.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
Introspect, Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa
2022
Pasada, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
La Rumba Rosa 2, Bonne Espérance Gallery, Paris, France
2021
La Rumba Rosa, One Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2019
Galerie Bilembo, Kinshasa, Congo
2018
ODA Gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa
2017
ODA Gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa
2015
Cry Smile Dream, S Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2014
New Voices, Lizamore and Associates Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2010
Médiathèque Woluwe, st Pierre, Bruxelles, Belgium
Galerie dialogue, National Museum of Lubumbashi, Congo
2009
Métamorphose, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France
Metamorphose, Arte kalao galeria, Bilbao, Spain
