The medium of comics is widespread and very popular in large parts of Congolese society and in its multifaceted diversity, it combines various strategies of expression in the visual arts. In this digital project, the International Comic Salon Erlangen would like to present the variety of Congolese comics by means of individual contributions to particular phenomena and perspectives created in experimental and decolonial collaboration of the participating artists and curators from Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, the Congolese diaspora and Erlangen.
- Rocky Production
- Discourse
In defense of the popular image
“Poor images” are squeezed, compressed, reproduced, ripped, remixed, and copied through slow digital connections. Just as life and art thus merge, so the boundaries between author and audience become blurred. Based on Hito Steyerl’s thesis of “poor images”, curator and writer Olivia Berkowicz analyses how popular images challenge the boundaries of Western cultural narratives.
- Thembo Kash
- Jean Kamba
- Comics
- Discourse
The political scene in the Congo and the caricatures of Thembo Kash
Thembo Kash, one of the most prominent press cartoonists in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has a clear preference for political issues. He publishes drawings in several Congolese and foreign newspapers and is currently particularly active at the online newspaper “actualite.cd”, where his caricatures are published almost daily. Written by Jean Kamba.
- Santa Kakese
- Comics
- Live: Kinshasa
Santa Kakese: Caricature in virtual public spaces
The young Congolese cartoonist Santa Kakese uses social networks as a distribution platform like many of her artist colleagues of this generation. Offering unlimited circulation, social networks allow artists to participate public life on their own terms.
- Tétshim
- Comics
- Discourse
Studio visit with Tétshim and Frank Mukunday
The filmmakers Tétshim and Frank Mukunday provide an insight into their work connecting experimental animation films and comics as artistic techniques.