Born in 1979, Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lives and works in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
In 2001, Kura Shomali interrupted his medical studies to enroll at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa. He participated in the creation of the EZA Possible group. He produces works on paper in which he boldly combines charcoal, ballpoint pen, gouache, ink, felt-tip pen, and collage, giving his works a unique texture and appearance. His early drawings, created in a kind of “urgency,” are inspired by the bustle of Kinshasa and the magazines circulated hand to hand in the city. His work reflects the chaotic megacity in which he lives and which he “digests,” as he explains.
In his more recent works, Kura Shomali appropriates well-known images from African photographers (Samuel Fosso, Sammy Balogi, Malick Sidibé, Jean Depara, etc.), reinterpreting them with humor. He also creates puppets from found materials, which he stages in videos and animates to denounce corruption and conflicts plaguing his country.
The EZA Possible group was formed in 2003 at the Kinshasa Academy of Fine Arts among a group of students. They had the idea of using discarded street objects, unwanted items, “stories,” scrap metal, and everyday remnants to create installations placed in the heart of the Academy. This led to the exhibition “Kinshasa Wenze Wenze.” Wenze means “small market” in Lingala, reflecting the bric-à-brac of Kinshasa. “Team spirit is like scrap metal. When separated, it does nothing. But when you gather it, when you weld it, it becomes something.”
After the exhibition, the collective solidified around six artists: Pathy Tshindele, Méga Mingiedi, Eddy Ekete, Kura Shomali, Kennedy Dinanga, and Freddy Mutombo.
EZA Possible seeks to find meaning where it seems lost, aiming for free, contemporary art, far from existing norms and standards. The collective implements multidisciplinary artistic exchanges, workshops, and residencies across different fields, including performing arts, video, music, and architecture. They promote artistic sharing through exhibitions, performances, and events, as well as training for students, amateurs, and young audiences.
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
