Born in 1979, Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lives and works in Kinsahasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
In 2001, Kura Shomali interrupted his medical studies, and integrated the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa where he took part to the creation of the group EZA possible. He creates works on paper in which he boldly mixes charcoal, ball pen, gouache, ink, marker and collage, which gives a unique aspect and texture to his work.
His first drawings, made in a hurry, are inspired by the bubbling city of Kinshasa and by the magazines that pass from hand to hand. His work is a reflection of the chaotic megalopolis where he lives and that he "digests" as he explains himself. In his most recent works, Kura Shomali appropriates images of well known African photographers and artists that he interprets with humor (Samuel Fosso, Sammy Balogi, Malick Sidibé, Jean Depara, ...)
He also creates puppets from recycled materials, that he stages in videos in which the puppets talk to expose corruption and conflicts that gangrene his country. The group Eza Possible was created in 2003 at the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa amongst a group of students. They come up with the idea of using what is roaming in the streets, what people don't want anymore, "stories", carcasses, scrap metal, leftovers from everyday life to transform them into installations and put them in the middle of the Academy. The exhibition "Kinshasa Wenze Wenze" is organized. Wenza means "small market" in Lingala, Kinshasa bric-à-brac. "The team spirit is like scrap metal. As long as it's separated, it doesn't do anything. But when we assemble, when we weld together, it does something". After the exhibition, the collective establishes itself around 6 artists: Pathy Tshindele, Méga Mingiedi, Eddy Ekete, Kura Shomali, Kennedy Dinanga and Freddy Mutombo.
Eza Possible... Trying to find a meaning where it seems to have disappeared, desire a free art, contemporary, far for the current norms and canons, enable artistic exchanges, the creation of pluridisciplinary artworks. Workshops and artist residencies mixing artists from different horizons, in connection with other forms of artistic expression: theatre, video, music, architecture, dissemination and sharing policy through exhibitions, performances, demonstrations in every shape, the organisation of courses for students, but also amateurs, young publics.
Collections
CAAC, the Pigozzi Collection, Geneva, Switzerland
Collection Farida et Henri Seydoux, Paris, France
Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris, France
Fondation Alliances, Casablanca, Morocco
Pizzuti Collection, USA
Collection Gervanne et Matthias Leridon, Paris, France
Collection Saatchi, London, United Kingdom
Fundación AMMA, Mexico
