from 11 March to 31 March

Free entrance

Monday to Thursday : 9:00 - 18:00
Friday : 9:00 - 17:00
Saturday : 9:00 - 12:00

THE “CULTURAL RENAISSANCE” EXHIBITION

Leaving his homeland in December 2003 for South Africa, Derix decided to work on new artistic strategies which define heritage and create a measure of security in this regard for future generations.

After 3 exhibitions entitled “Mundombe”, which described the daily life and activities of the Congolese woman, Derix was motivated in other ways and sought to refresh an authentic African style. Derix researched the original, true African art, questioning the art of the past in order to safeguard its rich heritage and maintain interaction between traditional and modern styles.

He decided to combine the splendour and dynamism of African art with the continuous network of traditional art, from the Baoule masks of West Africa to the San rock art of South Africa.

To highlight this inspirational style, Derix began incorporating exotic materials into his creations, for example, tukula (natural raw sienna), mompakala (raffia palm fibres), mutoto (natural soil), ngoto (sacking), dzeke (cowrie shells) and other recycled materials.

The use of these materials serves to reaffirm the structure, environment and roots of African realities - African art through time. Derix named this technique the “Mundombe style’’.

We well know that throughout time, contemporary African culture has been enriched by its heritage, but, although operational, this powerful tradition is hardly known to the majority of the Africans themselves. For many decades, the African heritage has been directed away from the socio-economic system.

However, in the light of all recent efforts and developments, change is inevitable. The time has now come to provide access to other previously neglected art forms, such as traditional dances and oral story telling. This approach heralds the beginning of the “Cultural Renaissance” and will bring about an explosion of creativity if originality is developed. Derix Raphael NDONGO seeks to reach levels of excellence which would not have been possible had he retained the old African methods.

The “Cultural Renaissance”exhibition seeks to rebuild self confidence in what we are and provide access to arts previously denied to many Africans. The broad change of emphasis reveals interest in, and appreciation of, our rich heritage, which, in turn, is capable of forming our identity, a characteristic that can determine an African style.

The “Mundombe style’’ and the “Cultural Renaissance”exhibition reveal the ability of African creators to unify their rich past and the strong wave of current creativity by means of African realities.

To contact the artist :

Derix Ndongo (073) 297 7891

To contact the Alliance française du Cap

Jean-Jacques Thézard

capetown@alliance.org.za (021) 423 5699

Alliance française du Cap 155 Loop Street Cape Town (021) 423 5699