Jonathan Mwe di Malila
Jonathan Mwe di Malila also known as Jonathan Malila, (born 1 April 1993 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo) is a Congolese-born artist and entrepreneur. He lives and works in Cologne and Constance, Germany.
His artwork tries to thematize everyday Congolese culture, which he dubbed Congo Pop.
Early life[edit]
He is a nephew of Franck Mwe di Malila and a descendant of the Mwe di Malila family, a notable family in Kinshasa, Cabinda, and Bas-Congo.[1] Mwe di, an honorable particule meaning Lord, derives from the Kikongo term Mwene, the title of the Lords and Nobility of the Kingdom of Kongo.[2][3]
His father is Édouard Mwe di Malila Apenela. In 1998 he moved to Germany. He attended primary school in Cologne at Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule and Humboldt Gymnasium Cologne. He played, hockey, football, and athletics. In 2008 he won the Cologne city championship in a sprint competition. After he finished school, he worked for a consulting company that specialized in the contribution of financial products.[4]
Congo Pop[edit]
Jonathan Mwe di Malila uses strong, vibrant and unbroken colours. He is inspired by Fauvism and Pop-Art. Many of his paintings include African or Congolese elements combined with everyday objects, subjects and situation to create a humorous effect.
His main medium is oil, which he combines with acrylics or African fabrics, such as African wax prints.
His art has no political intent.
Some of his art is naive. These works partially depict a childish and elementary perspective as spontaneous expressions of himself. In one series, he was inspired by the "Gentlemen of Bacongo" or better known as Les Sapeurs. These men, based in Brazzaville, are known for their eye-catching clothing and have been inspirational to artists and designers such as Solange Knowles on her music video "Losing You" and designer Paul Smith. Mwe di Malila adapted the Sapeurs in his work. He integrated African fabrics as his artistical interpretation. Since he is from Kinshasa, the other Congo State, he gave his series the name "Les Gens de coleur de Kinshasa" (The coloured people from Kinshasa).[5][6] His work has been influenced by Henri Matisse who is known to be a representative of Fauvism.[7]
Jonathan Malila typically paints for a week at a time for just a few hours per daily session.[8]
Television appearances[edit]
Solo exhibitions[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Guerre des successions chez les Mwe-Di Malila, seuls 4 enfants reconnus héritiers légitimes". 7sur7.cd. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2015. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "About Artist". malila-art.com. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ↑ Habi Buganza Mulinda (1993). Aux origines du royaume de Ngoyo. Civilisations. pp. 165–187. Search this book on
- ↑ "Kölner Stadtanzeiger: Die schnellsten Schüler der Stadt". ksta.de. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
- ↑ "The Technicolor Congo Pop Art of Jonathan Mwe di Malila". okayafrica.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Art: Congo-Pop the work of illustrator Jonathan Mwe di Malila". afropunk.com. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ↑ "The Congo Pop Movement: An interview with Jonathan Mwe di Malila - Ayiba Magazine". Ayiba Magazine. 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
- ↑ "The Congo Pop Movement: An interview with Jonathan Mwe di Malila - Ayiba Magazine". Ayiba Magazine. 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
- ↑ "Mieten, kaufen, wohnen: Ein Schrecken ohne Ende". voxnow.de. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ↑ "Jonathan Mwe di Malila: Ausstellung in der Galerie Smend". meinesuedstadt.de. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2015. Unknown parameter
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External links[edit]
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