Kabeya Thonton
Artist Biography
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(b. 1983, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo)
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Thonton Kabeya captures the essence of African cosmopolitanism through his constructions of contemporary urban life using paint and canvas. Having travelled across the African continent extensively, Kabeya lived and worked as an artist in Paris, before settling in Johannesburg in 2014. Kabeya actively challenges his medium of paint and canvas, pursuing new and experimental ways to create texture, depth, and balance of colour. His process involves glueing layers of canvas together, which he then cuts, carves, and sculpts before painting. Kabeya finishes the work with transferred elements from newspapers, carefully positioned to indicate the folds of moving fabric, and the application of a deep brown walnut powder (an old method of staining wooden furniture) which renders skin, as well as balances the tonality of the work.
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Inspired by architecture and design, Kabeya's practice seeks balance in composition, line, and colour in his three-dimensional work. He creates portraits of people and cities alike, bustling street scenes and tender exchanges between individuals. His recent works have focused on rhumba dancing, inspired by the dance studios and clubs frequented by the artist. Rumba music is of Cuban origin, and gained enormous popularity in the Congo during the 1960s and 70s. Dance is a much-loved form of expression, and is in many ways a performance of personhood.
The Congolese rumba was recently added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list as "The rumba is considered an essential and representative part of the identity of Congolese people and its diaspora. It is perceived as a means of conveying the social and cultural values of the region and of promoting intergenerational and social cohesion and solidarity." - UNESCO, 2021.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
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2022 Everard Read, Pasada, Johannesburg, South Africa
Bonne Esperance Gallery, La Rumba Rosa 2 , Paris/France
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2021 One Art Gallery, La Rumba Rosa, Johannesburg, South Africa
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2019 Galerie Bilembo, Kinshasa, Congo
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2018 ODA Gallery, Franschoek, South Africa
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2017 ODA Gallery, Franschoek, South Africa
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2015 Cry Smile Dream, S Art Gallery, Cape Town
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2014 New Voices, Lizamore and Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
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2010 Médiathèque Woluwe, st Pierre, Bruxelles, Belgium
Galerie dialogue, National Museum of Lubumbashi, Congo
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2009 Metamorphose, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, Maison de province de France
Metamorphose, Arte kalao galeria, Bilbao, Spain
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GROUP EXHIBITIONS
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2022 UCCLE / Bruxelles , Belgium
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2021 Gallery 2, A Cloud, Johannesburg/SA
Bonne Esperance Gallery, Salon Globalisto, Paris/France.
Art voice Gallery, Work on Paper, Kala Lumpur/Malaysia
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2017 The Gravity of Things, Artium Basque Museum Center of Contemporary Art of Vitoria-Gastei, Alava, Spain
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2012 Institut Francais of Lubumbashi, Congo
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2008 Vision for Africa, Archelle, Germany
Midi Libre, Mas de grille, Montpellier, France
Recontres Picha Biennale De Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi
Dakar Biennale, (Off Biennale), Gallery L. S. Senghor, Dakar
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2007 Yambi, Museum of Modern Art and Contemporain Art (MAMAC) Liège, Belgium.
Burogest, Business Center, Namur, Belgium
French institute, Congo
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2006 Memling Hotel, Kinshasa
Belgium Consulate, Congo
National Museum of Lubumbashi, Congo
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2005 French institute of Lubumbashi
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2008 Vision for Africa, Archelle, Germany
Midi Libre, Mas de grille, Montpellier, France
Recontres Picha Biennale De Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi
Dakar Biennale, (Off Biennale), Gallery L. S. Senghor, Dakar
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2007 Yambi, Museum of Modern Art and Contemporain Art (MAMAC) Liège, Belgium.
Burogest, Business Center, Namur, Belgium
French institute, Congo
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2006 Memling Hotel, Kinshasa
Belgium Consulate, Congo
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RESIDENCIES
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2014 Thupelo Workshop, Prince Albert
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2013 Institut Francais of Lubumbashi, Workshop, Congo
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2010 Galerie d’art contemporain Workshop, Musée de Lubumbashi, Congo
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2009 Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, France
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2008 Village des arts, Sénégal
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2006 The fine art of Kinshasa Workshop, Centre Wallonie Bruxelles, Kinshasa
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2003 Ecole de beaux arts, Workshop, Lubumbashi
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COLLECTIONS
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University of South Africa Art Collection, Pretoria
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Artium Basque Museum Center of Contemporary Art of Vitoria-Gastei, Alava, Spain
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George Forest Art Collection, Lubumbashi
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Sanaa Art Collection, Johannesburg
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Erick Vellard Art Collection, Paris
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A w a r d s
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2006 UNIADS Award
Belgium Council Award
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