Espace Observé: Art and Reflection on the Future Exhibition at Sablière de la N’sele this Saturday
The highly anticipated Espace Observé exhibition is set to open its doors this Saturday, January 18th, at the picturesque Sablière de la N’sele in Kinshasa, promising a unique artistic experience that blends futuristic visions, identity reflections, and a synergy between art and the environment. Spearheaded by the artistic direction of Rodrigo Gukukwila, this event aims to propel culture beyond its usual boundaries and reinvent how art interacts with space and life.
Rodrigo Gukukwila’s Vision
Rodrigo Gukukwila, both an exhibiting artist and the artistic director of the exhibition, emphasizes the desire to “remain perpetual in this Observed Space,” a concept that extends far beyond this inaugural edition. With bold ambitions for future editions in Moanda and beyond, the goal is to create a lasting cultural rendezvous rooted in local realities while welcoming a multitude of perspectives.
In an inclusive approach, the vernissage entrance is free, allowing everyone to explore this initiative without economic barriers. “We invite everyone. We do not want the public to be pigeonholed as either lovers or non-lovers of culture. Culture belongs to everyone,” Rodrigo Gukukwila stated during a press conference.
Exploring Diverse Themes
The exhibition brings together artworks with varied themes, reflecting the diversity and complexity of human emotions. Artist Emmanuel Ngunga delves into identity questions through striking hyperrealism, inviting viewers to contemplate the coexistence of modernity and nature.
Syntyche Mbembo combines ceramics and design to create hybrid works that blur the lines between utilitarian art and philosophical messages, representing architectural and humanoid-animal hybrid figures in complex and evocative contexts.
A Thought-Provoking Experience
At the core of this exhibition lies a profound reflection on space as a physical and mental place, a habitat, and an existential territory. The objective is to reconcile humans with their environment by exploring questions like: How can life be made enjoyable while preserving natural balance? How can spaces be designed to harmonize architecture and the environment?
Other contributing artists to the exhibition include Williams Mosete, Naguy Kusibula, Landy Mulala, and Bahati Mwalimu, with around thirty artworks available for viewing over nearly two weeks, including interactive installations, paintings, and evocative sculptures.
Espace Observé goes beyond being just an exhibition. In partnership with local orphanages, a creative workshop was held with children from the Kindobo village near Sablière de la N’sele. These children created imaginative artworks based on space observation, to be showcased at the vernissage, with proceeds from their collective work benefiting the orphanages to improve the children’s living conditions.
The exhibition, running until February 1st, will offer a range of artistic experiences from paintings and sculptures to interactive installations, along with guided tours for the public to engage in a deep dialogue between art, environment, and culture.
