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Chéri Chérin

Joseph Kinkonda called
CHÉRI CHÉRIN



Born 1955, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Lives and works in Kinshasa.

In the heart of Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), five times larger than France, possesses incomparable natural human and cultural riches. More than 400 ethnic groups speaking as many languages have flooded into Kinshasa in one exodus after another. A megalopolis with more than 10 million inhabitants, Kinshasa exemplifies the famous article 15 of the Constitution, which encourages people to take themselves in hand. Often this is done with talent, or even with genius. And this popular genius is what makes "Kin-the Beautiful" a stunning city, by day and by night.

Since the early 1970s, the city has witnessed a creative explosion in every artistic realm. The group "Viva la Musica", led by the superstar Papa Wemba, has enjoyed a huge popular success. It was a member of this group, Kester Emeneya, who invented the concept of the SAPE, the "Society of Atmosphere-Creators and Elegant Personalities". In this Kinshasa institution, Chéri Chérin is one of the most prestigious figures.

Within this effervescent context, the 1978 exhibition Art Everywhere, brought attention to a whole group of young "people's" artists, co-called because their representational, narrative painting is rooted in an addressed to the people at large. Samba, Moké, Bodo, and Chéri Chérin, the chief innovators of the group, have achieved success and have been embraced by all Kinshasa.

The artists in the "gang" - it is neither a school nor a movement - work in their separate studios on subjects inspired by social and political developments. They are differentiated as much by choice of subjects by style by the way they treat pictorial space, and by their use of colour. Chéri Chérin whose name is an acronym for "Créateur Hors (série) Expressionniste Remarquable Inéganable Unique en son genre" (« Unclassifiable Remarkable Expressionist Creator Unequalled and Unique in this field »), gives equal prominence to subject, form, representation, intelligibility, and decorative qualities. In this way he draws the spectator into his own interrogations, imprecisions, uncertainties, and unfinished works. He denounces a world in which opportunism and comedy threaten to win out over the true values for which Chéri Chérin means to fight.

"And if you, in the West, say that painting is finished, I will not give in to the facility of video as it is seen everywhere today, even in the Dakar biennale. I will keep on painting and you will see what you will see".

Download: Resumé
Chéri Chérin
Essentiel Paysage, Artistes contemporains africains
  • Group Show
Al Maaden Art Gallery, Centre d'Art contemporain Africain, Marrakech, Maroc
 -
 09.11.2016 - 04.03.2017
Chéri Chérin
Beauté Congo 1926 - 2015
  • Group Show
Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris, France
 -
 11.07.2015 - 10.01.2016

PUBLICATIONS

Lumières africaines. L'élan contemporain

Joël Andrianomearisoa,

Pierre Bodo,

Filipe Branquinho,

Seyni Awa Camara,

Mama Casset,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin

Omar Victor Diop,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Kiripi Katembo,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

JP Mika,

Moke,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Gérard Quenum,

Amadou Sanogo,

Malick Sidibé,

Lumières africaines. L'élan contemporain

-
Author : André Magnin & Mehdi Qotbi
Editor : Langages du sud
2017
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 Ngayimoko,

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


Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Malick Sidibé,

Cyprien Tokoudagba


"L'Afrique en capitale": Rabat célèbre les couleurs du continent

Telquel.ma

-

By Ilhem El Hamamouchi

-
02.04.2017
Download: PDF
Rabat se met aux couleurs de l'Afrique

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Chérin,

Malick Sidibé


Rabat se met aux couleurs de l'Afrique

Le Parisien
-
30.03.2017
Download: PDF
Musée d'art contemporain à Marrakech: Blessures et résilience de l'Afrique

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Gonçalo Mabunda


Musée d'art contemporain à Marrakech: Blessures et résilience de l'Afrique

L'Economiste

-

By Stéphanie JACOB

-
21.02.2017
Download: PDF
Au Congo, la peinture populaire tient la chronique du quotidien

Chéri Chérin


Au Congo, la peinture populaire tient la chronique du quotidien

Le Monde Afrique

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By Roxana Azimi

-
02.01.2017
Download: PDF
La cité ocre se dote d'un Musée d'art contemporain africain

Amani Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Calixte Dakpogan,

John Goba,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Gonçalo Mabunda,

Abu Bakarr Mansaray


La cité ocre se dote d'un Musée d'art contemporain africain

Le Matin Maroc

-

By Mokhtar Grioute

-
22.11.2016
Download: PDF
Bruxelles : une exposition consacrée à la peinture populaire de la RDC

Chéri Chérin


Bruxelles : une exposition consacrée à la peinture populaire de la RDC

ADIAC

-

By Patrick Ndungidi

-
16.09.2016
Download: PDF
Arts : les 100 Africains les mieux cotés

Pierre Bodo,

Frédéric Bruly Bouabré,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Romuald Hazoumè,

Seydou Keïta,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

George Lilanga,

Gonçalo Mabunda,

JP Mika,

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere,

Malick Sidibé

Arts : les 100 Africains les mieux cotés

Jeune Afrique
-
11.01.2016
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 Ngayimoko,

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

Steve Bandoma,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Kiripi Katembo,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette 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
Beauté Congo

Steve Bandoma,

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Pathy Tshindele


Beauté Congo

Art Press

-

By Anaël Pigeat

-
21.10.2015
Download: PDF
Art Sales: African riches

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Omar Victor Diop,

Moke


Art Sales: African riches

The Daily Telegraph

-

By Colin Gleadell 

-
13.10.2015
Download: PDF
Beauté Congo : une explosion de créativité kinoise

Bela,

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke


Beauté Congo : une explosion de créativité kinoise

BBC News

-

By Florence Yérémian

-
08.10.2015
Download: PDF
La beauté du Congo se dévoile à Paris

Steve Bandoma,

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Monsengo Shula

La beauté du Congo se dévoile à Paris

Sept Info

-

By Sylvie Rantrua

-
03.10.2015
Download: PDF
Le Congo en beauté à la fondation Cartier

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke


Le Congo en beauté à la fondation Cartier

Libération_Bondy blog

-

By Abdoulaye Gassama

-
26.09.2015
Download: PDF
Explosión de belleza en Kinshasa : 90 años de arte congoleño

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

Moke


Explosión de belleza en Kinshasa : 90 años de arte congoleño

El País

-

By Beatriz Leal Riesco

-
03.09.2015
Download: PDF
Trésors congolais

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

JP Mika,

Moke


Trésors congolais

Marianne

-

By Frédérique Briard

-
28.08.2015
Download: PDF
La beauté Congo s'exhibe à la Fondation Cartier

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

Moke


La beauté Congo s'exhibe à la Fondation Cartier

L'Humanité

-

By Diémé-Sagna Yancouba

-
26.08.2015
Download: PDF
The nuanced republic

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Pathy Tshindele


The nuanced republic

Financial Times

-

By Emma Crichton-Miller

-
08.08.2015
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

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By Isabelle Audin

-
31.07.2015
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Expo : oh le beau Congo !

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngayimoko,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula

Expo : oh le beau Congo !

Huffington Post

-

By Jérôme Stern.

-
31.07.2015
Download: PDF
La peinture congolaise au parfum

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke


La peinture congolaise au parfum

La Libre Belgique

-

By Roger Pierre Turine

-
30.07.2015
Download: PDF
Im Kongo weiß man, wie kurz die Zukunft sein kann

Steve Bandoma,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika


Im Kongo weiß man, wie kurz die Zukunft sein kann

Die Welt

-

By Johannes Wetzel

-
29.07.2015
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Un certain regard

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Kura Shomali ,

Pathy Tshindele


Un certain regard

Jeune Afrique

-

By Séverine Kodjo Grandvaux

-
19.07.2015
Download: PDF
Beauté Congo : l'art congolais, une créativité unique en Afrique

Steve Bandoma,

Pierre Bodo,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Kiripi Katembo,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Kura Shomali ,

Pathy Tshindele


Beauté Congo : l'art congolais, une créativité unique en Afrique

RFI

-

By Siegfried Forster

-
18.07.2015
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,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngayimoko,

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,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette 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
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 Ngayimoko,

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
André Magnin :

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke


André Magnin :

RFI Afrique

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By Tirthankar Chanda

-
13.07.2015
Download: PDF
Beauté Congo : le dynamisme de l'art congolais

Steve Bandoma,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngayimoko


Beauté Congo : le dynamisme de l'art congolais

TV5 Monde

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By Amélie Revert

-
12.07.2015
Download: PDF
La vitalité des artistes du Congo embrase la Fondation Cartier

Steve Bandoma,

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Pathy Tshindele


La vitalité des artistes du Congo embrase la Fondation Cartier

Quotidien de l'art

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By Roxana Azimi

-
11.07.2015
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
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Entretien André Magnin à propos de l'exposition Beauté Congo :

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki


Entretien André Magnin à propos de l'exposition Beauté Congo :

Le Monde

-

By Roxana Azimi

-
10.07.2015
Download: PDF
Afrique-Art contemporain : passion Congo

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Kiripi Katembo,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Kura Shomali ,

Pathy Tshindele


Afrique-Art contemporain : passion Congo

Le Point Afrique

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By Valérie Marin la Meslée

-
09.07.2015
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Beauté Congo : l'exposition qui restitue l'énergie débridée de Kinsasha

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke


Beauté Congo : l'exposition qui restitue l'énergie débridée de Kinsasha

Le Monde Afrique

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By Roxana Azimi

-
09.07.2015
Download: PDF
De Kinshasa au MoMA, retour sur un siècle de peinture congolaise

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Pathy Tshindele


De Kinshasa au MoMA, retour sur un siècle de peinture congolaise

Télérama

-

By Frédérique Chapuis

-
09.07.2015
Download: PDF
Un siècle haut en couleurs

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Pathy Tshindele


Un siècle haut en couleurs

Télérama

-

By Frédéric Chapuis

-
08.07.2015
Download: PDF
Congo moderne, Congo contemporain à la Fondation Cartier

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Albert Lubaki,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Moke,

Kura Shomali ,

Pathy Tshindele


Congo moderne, Congo contemporain à la Fondation Cartier

Connaissance des arts

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By Myriam Boutoulle

-
01.07.2015
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Beauté Congo 1925-2015

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngayimoko


Beauté Congo 1925-2015

Le Vif
-
19.06.2015
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Beauté Congo

Bela,

Chéri Samba,

Chéri Chérin,

Jean Depara,

Bodys Isek Kingelez,

Antoinette Lubaki,

Albert Lubaki,

JP Mika,

Moke,

Ambroise Ngayimoko,

Kura Shomali ,

Monsengo Shula,

Pathy Tshindele

Beauté Congo

The Wall Street International Online
-
18.06.2015
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