Steve Bandoma: New Work From Kinshasa

Jack Bell Gallery is pleased to present a new series of works on paper by Congolese artist Bandoma, in his first solo exhibition at the gallery.

Bandoma describes his work as recycling found objects, appropriating imagery from contemporary advertising and magazines, in order 'to breathe new life into them'. In his most recent series, the artist creates imagined portraits of the inhabitants of Congo's sprawling capital Kinshasa. A shape shifting species of genetic mutations, his images are contemporary embodiments of traditional African gods and fetish objects.

Bandoma combines acrylic, watercolour, felt-tip pen, ink, and collage, often on handmade paper to give these works a tangible energy. Splashes of paint and bursts of colour add violence and urgency to his portraits. Inspired by the chaos of daily life and the fast moving media that make up Kinshasa's street culture, the artist's aesthetic approach and choice of materials reflect a dynamism in new artistic trends stemming from Africa.

Steve Bandoma (b. 1981) lives and works in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. His work has been exhibited at Focus10, Contemporary Art Africa, Basel, Switzerland, curated by Christene Eyene, and more recently in Currencies in Contemporary African Art at Museum Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa. This will be his first solo exhibition in the UK.