Alexandre Kyungu DRC, b. 1992

Biography

“My work explores the imaginary between urban cartography and the sacrification of the body. I attempt to question the cartographic policy of Africa and the rest of the world in contemporary society."

Alexandre Kyungu is a visual artist born in 1992 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, where he currently lives and works. He studied art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa and, after participating in several group exhibitions and residency workshops in his country and abroad, he is now the co-founder of Vision Total Group, working in collaboration with Kin Art Studio (KAS).

Kyungu explores the fascinating intersection of urban cartography and body scarification in his work. He draws inspiration from the Lingala term "Nzoloko," which signifies scarification, a practice deeply rooted in African identity and used to mark ethnicity and origin. Kyungu's art intentionally combines scarification and mapping to address issues of accessibility, mobility, and the human experience in urban spaces.

His artistic practice spans painting, drawing, sculpture, and installation, with rubber as a prominent medium. Kyungu uses rubber to connect cartography and scarification, exploring themes of migration, identity, borders, and symbols. In essence, Kyungu's art serves as a "cartographic essay," merging maps from different cities with scarifications to challenge traditional notions of boundaries and create a unique imaginary space in his works. His art invites viewers to contemplate the complex relationship between humanity and the spaces we inhabit.

Recently, Alexandre took part in the Africa 1:1 residency and exhibition project, resulting from the fruitful collaboration between AKKA Project, Africa First, and the Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art in Venice.

Download Artist's CV

Works