The artwork features a bold and expressive monochromatic composition. The prominent central element is a fragmented face, rendered in shades of gray and black, with a haunting, distorted appearance. The distorted features and splattering effect create a sense of movement and chaos, evoking an unsettling emotional response. The inclusion of the numerical label "555" adds a subtle layer of contextual meaning, potentially referencing themes of identity, anonymity, or societal categorization. The overall style and technique suggest a contemporary, avant-garde sensibility, with the artist employing abstract and unconventional approaches to explore the human form and condition. ...
Steve Bandoma’s art confronts themes of colonial and post-colonial oppression with a playful, often ironic tone. His mixed-media creations burst with energetic visuals that, upon closer examination, reveal an underlying order amid apparent chaos. For Bandoma, the role of the artist is inherently political, and his works powerfully communicate his observations on social and political realities. Rejecting traditional art methods that seemed disconnected from the vibrant contemporary popular art emerging outside formal institutions, Bandoma sought new forms of expression that challenge restrictive definitions of African art and naturalism. His time in South Africa exposed him to avant-garde influences, fueling his drive to innovate before returning to Kinshasa to further develop his artistic voice. Working across sculpture, painting, drawing, and collage, Bandoma repurposes images from magazines, transforming familiar visuals into fresh, dynamic compositions. His work captures the lively energy and complex realities of Kinshasa’s urban environment, weaving fragmented figures, bold colors, and layered collage into expressions that balance chaos with humor amid political turmoil. His art critically reexamines African history and identity, while also offering a hopeful perspective toward transformation and renewal. ...
Galerie Cecile Fakhoury opened its doors in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in September 2012. In May 2018, the gallery inaugurated its second space in Dakar, Senegal and a showroom in Paris, France. Shortly after, in March 2020, a new project space dedicated to emerging artists from Africa opened in Abidjan. In October 2021, Galerie Cecile Fakhoury inaugurated another gallery, opening in the 8th arrondissement of Paris on Avenue Matignon. The gallery promotes contemporary art from Africa and the Diaspora by providing visibility to the artistic diversity and creative spirit from the continent. Through its programming of solo and group exhibitions, participation in international art fairs, biennales, and collaboration with international galleries, Cecile Fakhoury is a leading force putting contemporary African art on the global map. The artists represented by the gallery are distinguished by their cultural identities and stories, they create a new language that crosses geographical boundaries and familiarities. They are observers of the world they live in, critics of society, and committed to their positions living within complex histories. In turn, they ask us to reconsider our own relation to the world. ...
