Kimathi Donkor
dal 11/9/2012 al 23/11/2012
Segnalato da
11/9/2012
Kimathi Donkor
Iniva - Institute of International Visual Arts, London
Queens of the Undead. The exhibition features a series of new commissions by the artist celebrating heroic black women from history, alongside selected earlier works: a series of six works exploring the possibilities of figurative painting through the filters of history, legend and myth.
curated by David Dibosa and Carol Tulloch
Kimathi Donkor’s dramatic large-scale paintings express pathos, wrath, devotion and irony.
From 13 September to 24 November 2012, Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts) at
Rivington Place presents a series of new commissions by the artist celebrating heroic black
women from history, alongside selected earlier works.
‘These paintings resurrect the undead glory of charismatic black women who each helped
define the modern world, and are revered as amazing armed heroines in their homelands – a
lot like Joan of Arc. Of course, I enjoy quoting imagery from their own times, but I also want
to reflect the turbulent power such bold figures still exert on our contemporary imagination.’
Kimathi Donkor’s work is constructed through extensive research both into history and the
ideologically loaded genres of Western oil painting. The artist explores portraiture, narrative
and art historical themes in his paintings, creating a body of work often conceived in dialogue
with other artists from David and Velazquez, to Sargent and Bowling. This will be the first
complete exhibition of painting to date at Rivington Place.
Queens of the Undead is a series of six works exploring the possibilities of figurative painting
through the filters of history, legend and myth. Each painting is at once a contemporary
portrait, an exploration of art history and an evocation of an historic female commander /
royal figurehead from Africa or its Diasporas, celebrated for their place in liberation
struggles.
The works are dedicated to the life of Queen Njinga Mbandi who led her armies against the
Portugese empire in Angola; Harriet Tubman, the underground-railroad leader who freed 70
people from U.S. slavery in the 1850s; Queen Nanny who led the Maroon guerillas that fought
the British in 1700s Jamaica; and in what is now Ghana, the 20th-century anti-colonial
commander-in-chief, Yaa Asantewaa.
Research texts written by curator/ writers David Dibosa (Chelsea College of Art & Design) and
Carol Tulloch (University of the Arts) are displayed alongside the paintings, adding context
and making reference to histories which might not be so apparent.
To find out more about the exhibition and accompanying series of talks and events, visit
www.iniva.org.
Image: When Shall We Three? (Scenes from the life of Njinga Mbandi), 2010. All images by Kimathi Donkor, oil on linen, copyright the artist.
Further information
For high resolution images please contact:
Sheena Balkwill, Communications Manager
sbalkwill@iniva.org or tel 020 7749 1246
Press view: (with artist present) Wednesday 12 September 2012, 10am - 12 noon
Iniva - Institute of International Visual Arts
Rivington Place, London, EC2A 3BA
Rivington Place public opening hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 11am – 6pm
Late Thursdays: 11am – 9pm
Saturday: 12noon – 6pm
Admission: free