De Dieu Luwungu

About

Born into a family of nine in Lubumbashi, Alain de Dieu Luwungu Liyongo, known professionally as De Dieu Luwungu, is a Congolese artist living and working in Kinshasa. From a young age, Luwungu was captivated by drawing, a passion that guided him to the Institute of Fine Arts in Kinshasa for artistic humanities studies. Following the completion of his State diploma in Plastic Arts in 2004, Luwungu pursued higher education at the esteemed Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa. In 2009, he emerged with a Bachelor’s degree in Plastic Arts, specializing in painting. Since 2008, he has been serving as an art instructor at the Higher Institute of Arts and Crafts in Kinshasa.

Luwungu is not only a canvas painter but also a muralist and accomplished illustrator. He identifies as an eclectic visual artist, refusing any form of reductionism in the ever-dynamic, nebulous, and sometimes unpredictable world of art. His artistic approach is built around the need for positive social connectivity in a branching perspective. In his vision for a better world, the concept of living together and balance stemming from complementarity proposes the summation of differences instead of unproductive antagonisms. His primary mediums include acrylic, oil, and matchsticks, which he uses to translate his progressive artistic vision, condensed in the philosophy of arborescence, into an expressionist and surrealistic style. His paintings serve as a hymn to the concept of ‘living together,’ sung in unison in a setting where the art of line work plays a significant role.

Luwungu’s work echoes the influence of Ndamvu Tsiku-Pezo, Matemo and Roger Botembe as well as globally revered Dutch painters Van Gogh and Rembrandt. However, Luwungu’s distinct technique and extraordinary creativity sets him apart, marking him as an artist with a unique voice and style.

Recently, Luwungu’s work was featured in exhibitions at the Wallonia Brussels Center in 2022 as part of the ‘RD Congo Land of Artist’ exhibitions on COVID-19 and RUMB’ART. In 2021, his work was part of the ‘When Art Meets the River’ exhibition at the Fleuve Congo Hotel.

At Kitokongo, we are pleased to introduce and promote the work of De Dieu Luwungu, an artist whose innovative approach and exceptional creativity leave a distinct mark in the Congolese art scene. Stay tuned to explore more of his captivating artistry.

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