MAGNIN-A Gallery presents ‘Modern Congo’, on display until December 23rd.

The ‘Modern Congo’ exhibition at MAGNIN-A Gallery focuses on two key periods in Congolese modern art: 1927-1932 and the era of the “Hangar artists” from 1946-1954. Belgian Georges Thiry, a resident of Congo, was inspired by modern paintings on hut walls and discovered artists Albert and Antoinette Lubaki in Bukama, Katanga in 1926 and Tshyela Ntendu [Djilatendo] in Kasai in 1927. Thiry provided them with colors and paper, allowing them to transition to canvas and capture village life, wildlife, and abstract geometric compositions in vibrant colors.

‘Modern Congo’ showcases rare modern works from 1930-1960, showcasing around fifty pieces. The exhibition encapsulates the dynamism of Congolese art, ranging from serene to explosively vibrant. The exhibition is 90 years after its initial spotlight at the Palais des Beaux-Arts and Galerie Centaure in Brussels, and 70 years after being featured at MoMA.

The exhibition encourages viewers to approach these masterpieces with an open mind and embrace them in their own unique way.

MAGNIN-A is a contemporary art gallery founded in 2009 in Paris by André Magnin and directed by Philippe Boutté, acknowledged experts in modern and contemporary African arts.

Source: MAGNIN-A.