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Monsengo Shula

Born in 1959, Nioki, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lives and works in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo



As the majority of "popular" artists from Kinshasa, his talent for drawing unveiled early. Shula started at the age of 15 as his cousin assistant, the well known Moke, the godfather of the "popular painting" and a colourist master. He is one of those that thinks that their narrative paintings directly stemmed from everyday life must be critical, condemn political unfairness, bring awareness and educate the population. This is the reason why all his paintings suggest the message. " Painters are useful because they say out loud what others think to themselves".

Shula distinguishes himself from the other "popular painters" such as Moke, Chéri Samba, Chéri Chérin. His characteristic combination of colours provides to his paintings an effect of unreal, as if he managed to overcome reality. The theme of his recent paintings brings a new perspective to global problems such as global warming, international policy and the relationship of mankind with technology.

"The artist shows his singularity in 2012 when he chooses to depict the technological mutations of the world and the growing robotization. With a surrealist humor that evokes the Chaplin of Modern Times, he paints the processed man, transformed into a simple wheel of a complex mechanism, dislocated and connected puppets. We are however far from the darkness of the movie Matrix. Shula's characters are consenting slaves of digital communication. "Men think of machines as a friend, but it is a mistake" he regrets. "Do you find it normal that a woman and a man meeting in a restaurant spend their time on their phones without talking to each other? My son is always wearing his earphones. I am also in front of my computer or Euronews. We can't be stuck at the Stone Age nor go back, but we need safeguards. It is very troubling to live in a world in which fiction and reality intertwine."
Perfectly constructed, his paintings can be distinguished by a cold set of colors, accentuated by the prevailing of a cobalt blue color, almost like a television. Shula intends to explore the question of smart houses, managed by computer systems. Future or fantasy? It doesn't matter. His eye is greedy: he knows that he found an inexhaustible source."
 
Le Monde
Roxana Azimi
Written on September 7, 2015

Download: Resumé
Monsengo Shula
WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF
  • Group Show
Online / ARTSY
 -
 24.03.2020 - 07.04.2020
Monsengo Shula
NA KINSHASA EZA POSSIBLE
  • Group Show
-
 27.04.2019 - 27.07.2019
Monsengo Shula
Congo Stars
  • JP Mika ,
  • Moke ,
  • Monsengo Shula
Kunsthaus Graz, Autriche
 -
 22.09.2018 - 27.01.2019
Monsengo Shula
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London 2015
  • Group Show
Somerset House, Londres, Angleterre
 -
 15.10.2015 - 18.10.2015

PUBLICATIONS

Beauté Congo - 1926-2015 - Congo Kitoko

Steve Bandoma,

Bela,

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngaimoko,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula,

Pathy Tshindele

Beauté Congo - 1926-2015 - Congo Kitoko

-
Author : Textes de Thomas Bayet, In Koli Jean Bofane, Michael De Plaen, Frédéric Lomami Haffner, Nancy Rose Hunt, Jean-Christophe Lanquetin, Elikia M'Bokolo, André Magnin, Dominique Malaquais, Pedro Monaville, Bob W. White et entretiens avec de nombreux artistes
Editor : Édition Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris
2015
African Stories

Joël Andrianomearisoa,

Steve Bandoma,

Bela,

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Calixte Dakpogan,

Omar Victor Diop,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

George Lilanga,

Albert Lubaki,

Gonçalo Mabunda,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Gérard Quenum,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula,

Cyprien Tokoudagba,

Pathy Tshindele

Billie Zangewa,

African Stories

-
Author : André Magnin

2014

PRESS

1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, NYC, Opens This Week

Monsengo Shula


1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, NYC, Opens This Week

Art Africa
-
05.05.2016
Download: PDF
Fondation cartier traces the creative spirit of the democratic republic of the Congo

Steve Bandoma,

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngaimoko,

Monsengo Shula


Fondation cartier traces the creative spirit of the democratic republic of the Congo

Designboom

-

By Suhei Senda

-
19.12.2015
Download: PDF
On Art In Africa by André Magnin

Bela,

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


On Art In Africa by André Magnin

Crash

-

By Armelle Leturcq

-
15.12.2015
Download: PDF
La revanche de l'art africain contemporain

Monsengo Shula


La revanche de l'art africain contemporain

Le journal du dimanche

-

By Marie-Anne Klieber

-
06.12.2015
Download: PDF
Beauté Congo 1926 - 2015 Congo Kitoko, A Century of Congolese Art

Steve Bandoma,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Kiripi Katembo,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula,

Pathy Tshindele


Beauté Congo 1926 - 2015 Congo Kitoko, A Century of Congolese Art

Blog : anotherwayoflooking.
-
03.12.2015
Download: PDF
Le boom événementiel de l'art contemporain africain

Chéri Samba,

Kiripi Katembo,

Monsengo Shula


Le boom événementiel de l'art contemporain africain

RFI

-

By Akouavi Assogba-Migan

-
30.10.2015
Download: PDF
La beauté du Congo se dévoile à Paris

Steve Bandoma,

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula

La beauté du Congo se dévoile à Paris

Sept Info

-

By Sylvie Rantrua

-
03.10.2015
Download: PDF
La rumba, bande-originale des mutations de la société congolaise

Chéri Samba,

Jean Depara,

Monsengo Shula


La rumba, bande-originale des mutations de la société congolaise

Le Monde

-

By Véronique Mortaigne

-
24.09.2015
Download: PDF
Fou du Congo !

Kiripi Katembo,

Monsengo Shula


Fou du Congo !

France Inter

-

By Stéphane Capron

-
03.09.2015
Download: PDF
Kinshasa laboratoire des arts

Chéri Samba,

Kiripi Katembo,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


Kinshasa laboratoire des arts

Alternatives Internationales

-

By Léa-Lisa Westerhoff

-
01.09.2015
Download: PDF
Beauté Congo go, go, go !

Steve Bandoma,

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


Beauté Congo go, go, go !

Art Tension

-

By Patrick Lefur

-
01.09.2015
Download: PDF
Découvre des oeuvres d'art d'un pays quatre fois plus grand que la France

Chéri Samba,

Kiripi Katembo,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


Découvre des oeuvres d'art d'un pays quatre fois plus grand que la France

Le Petit Quotidien
-
24.08.2015
Download: PDF
A Paris, le Congo en toute liberté

Steve Bandoma,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula,

Pathy Tshindele


A Paris, le Congo en toute liberté

Le Temps

-

By Laurent Wolf

-
14.08.2015
Download: PDF
En images: portrait de 8 flamboyants artistes congolais

Steve Bandoma,

Chéri Samba,

Kiripi Katembo,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula


En images: portrait de 8 flamboyants artistes congolais

Le vif

-

By Michel Verlinden

-
12.08.2015
Download: PDF
Congolese art at Fondation Cartier

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Kiripi Katembo,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula,

Pathy Tshindele


Congolese art at Fondation Cartier

Financial Times

-

By Emma Crichton-Miller

-
07.08.2015
Download: PDF
L'exposition « Beauté Congo » un succès inattendu

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


L'exposition « Beauté Congo » un succès inattendu

France 3 Ile-de-France

-

By Isabelle Audin

-
31.07.2015
Download: PDF
Expo : oh le beau Congo !

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngaimoko,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula

Expo : oh le beau Congo !

Huffington Post

-

By Jérôme Stern.

-
31.07.2015
Download: PDF
Showcasing Congolese Art

Chéri Samba,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


Showcasing Congolese Art

International New-York Times

-

By Rachel Donadio

-
28.07.2015
Download: PDF
De la brousse à la ville, la grande mutation des artistes congolais

Chéri Samba,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


De la brousse à la ville, la grande mutation des artistes congolais

La Croix

-

By Sabine Gignoux

-
27.07.2015
Download: PDF
90 ans d'art congolais à Paris : quels talents !

Chéri Samba,

Jean Depara,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngaimoko,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula,

Pathy Tshindele


90 ans d'art congolais à Paris : quels talents !

Gala

-

By Juliette Serfati

-
26.07.2015
Download: PDF
Congo Vision: A Homeland As Its Artists Render It

Steve Bandoma,

Chéri Samba,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


Congo Vision: A Homeland As Its Artists Render It

The New-York Times

-

By Rachel Donadio

-
25.07.2015
Download: PDF
Toutes les couleurs du Congo

Chéri Samba,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula


Toutes les couleurs du Congo

Le Parisien

-

By Yves Jaeglé

-
24.07.2015
Download: PDF
Le Congo, inépuisable mine d'art

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


Le Congo, inépuisable mine d'art

Libération

-

By Maria Malagardis

-
23.07.2015
Download: PDF
Beauté Congo, Congo Kitoko. Le reflet de la créativité congolaise

Chéri Samba,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


Beauté Congo, Congo Kitoko. Le reflet de la créativité congolaise

Agence d'information d'Afrique centrale

-

By Meryll Mezath.

-
23.07.2015
Download: PDF
Vital Congo

Chéri Samba,

JP Mika,

Monsengo Shula


Vital Congo

Point de vue

-

By Pierre Castel

-
22.07.2015
Download: PDF
Quatre maîtres de la peinture congolaise

Steve Bandoma,

Chéri Samba,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula


Quatre maîtres de la peinture congolaise

Les Inrockuptibles

-

By Renaud Monfourny

-
22.07.2015
Download: PDF
De la colonie belge à la RDC, splendeur de l'art congolais

Steve Bandoma,

Bela,

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngaimoko,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula,

Pathy Tshindele

De la colonie belge à la RDC, splendeur de l'art congolais

Le Monde

-

By Philippe Dagen

-
18.07.2015
Download: PDF
Auf der wahren Karte der Welt liegt Europa unten

Steve Bandoma,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Monsengo Shula


Auf der wahren Karte der Welt liegt Europa unten

Die Welt

-

By Von Johannes Wetzel

-
17.07.2015
Download: PDF
Chéri Samba : « l'exposition Beauté Congo va changer quelque chose ».

Chéri Samba,

JP Mika,

Monsengo Shula


Chéri Samba : « l'exposition Beauté Congo va changer quelque chose ».

RFI

-

By Siegfried Forster

-
14.07.2015
Download: PDF
L'art contemporain en Afrique. Voyez Beauté Congo (1926-2015), à la Fondation Cartier

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngaimoko,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula,

Pathy Tshindele


L'art contemporain en Afrique. Voyez Beauté Congo (1926-2015), à la Fondation Cartier

Evous

-

By André Balbo

-
13.07.2015
Download: PDF
Congolese Art in Full Color

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Monsengo Shula


Congolese Art in Full Color

The Wall Street Journal

-

By Tobias Grey

-
10.07.2015
Download: PDF
On se laisse emporter par

Steve Bandoma,

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula


On se laisse emporter par

ELLE

-

By Caroline Six

-
10.07.2015
Download: PDF
Beauté Congo

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngaimoko,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula,

Pathy Tshindele

Beauté Congo

The Wall Street International Online
-
18.06.2015
Download: PDF