Mihalina Nyota Buzilu, one of the rising voices on Kinshasa’s contemporary art scene, revisits one of the oldest themes in the history of Western painting and brings it into conversation with the anxieties of her own generation. In “Pembeni mwa nafsi” (Au bord du soi), a reclining figure gazes into a hand mirror while a skull waits patiently nearby. A meditation on vanity, narcissism, and the life we refuse to accept, the work unfolds as a quiet warning about the dangerous border where self-contemplation becomes self-loss. Watch the artist speak.

“In ‘Rites de Passage,’ Phinet Kisimba masterfully bridges ancient traditions with contemporary art. Through a contemplative figure draped in white and the symbolic presence of a Mwanza mask, he explores the sacred feminine rites of passage in Katangese culture. The vibrant red background and traditional symbolism create a powerful dialogue between past and present, inviting us to reflect on the evolution of cultural transmission in modern Congolese society.

In “Queen Mambueni,” master artist Patrick Kusakana weaves a powerful narrative of ancestral wisdom through striking black and white symbolism. Inspired by his grandmother, a traditional healer, this remarkable piece features a majestic female figure adorned with ivory tusks, surrounded by sacred animals and geometric patterns that speak to Mukongo traditions. Through this rare and exceptional work, Kusakana demonstrates his unique ability to bridge ancestral power with contemporary expression. Discover the full story of this extraordinary artwork.