Bill Kouélany

**Bill Kouélany** (dem born am for 31 October 1965 insyd Brazzaville) be a Congolese artist, writer den set designer. Insyd 2007, she participate insyd *documenta 12* insyd Kassel plus a multimedia art installation. She dey live insyd Brazzaville, de capital of de Republic of the Congo.

## Life den career
As a teenager, **B.** **Kouélany** (as she dey prefer make dem bell am) she live thru de wars den violence insyd ein native Congo. Years later dem fi find de imprints of those early experiences insyd ein writings den art.

### Writer
A French speaker, ein early writings dey include plays such as *Cafard, cafarde (Cockroach, cockroach)*, wich she present insyd Paris (2003), den *Peut-être (Perhaps)* (2007), wich na she wrep plus colleague Jean-Paul Delore. Ein written pieces reveal evidence of influence by de notable Congolese poet den novelist Tchicaya U Tam’si, wey be remembered as *"a tormented and highly sensitive writer who [B. Kouélany] also featured in her first canvases."*

According to Chavelet, dem never publish chaw of ein writings (as of 2016).

### Painter
B. Kouélany ein paintings reveal de artist ein self-taught skills as well as dema autobiographical elements, wey dey make ein art sought out among international audiences insyd Africa den Europe. Since 2007, na dem distribute ein work internationally by de Peter Hermann Gallery insyd Berlin den de RDV Gallery insyd Nantes, France.

Insyd 2001, she take part insyd de residency program of de Doual’Art urban workshops insyd Cameroon. Insyd 2002, na dem invite ein work to de Dak’Art Biennale plus de *Creators of Central Africa*, den insyd 2006 she submit art to de seventh Dak’Art. Insyd 2004, na dem name am an artist in residence insyd Nantes, France wey she take part insyd an exhibition der dem call *Beautés d’Afrique (Beauties of Africa)*. Insyd 2006, again for de Dak’Art Biennale exhibition, she receive two prizes, de Prix de la Francophonie den Prix Montalvo Arts Center.

B. Kouélany ein submission de year wey dey follow to an exhibition dem call *documenta 12* insyd Germany na ebe widely noticed. De work, dem call *Untitled,* na ebe a very large installation wey dey examine de consequences of war den violence.*In 2007, B. Kouélany was the first sub-Saharan African woman to exhibit at Documenta in Kassel. She presented her largest piece to date: a paper maché wall with excerpts of texts from several international newspapers and warped videos of her face, in which she expresses, as a mother and daughter, her empathy toward the Congolese people.*

### Mentor
Insyd 2012, B. Kouélany found de contemporary art center den workshop, Les Ateliers Sahm insyd Brazzaville, wey she turn ein artistic director. De multidisciplinary center dey support contemporary art insyd Congo wey ebe devoted to make e dey support young artists, no be from ein country per buh de remainder of de African continent as well. According to de Prince Claus Fund, de creation of Les Ateliers Sahm *"is perhaps one of her greatest achievements."*

She continue dey work creatively. Insyd 2019, she take part insyd de exhibition *Prête-moi ton rêve (Lend me your dream)* insyd Morocco, wich feature oda painters wey komot African wey na dem schedule (for de time) make she visit chaw countries.

## Awards

* 2006: Prix de la Francophonie (France)
* 2006: Montalvo Arts Center Prize (USA)
* 2018: Officer of Arts and Letters, award by de French Ministry of Culture.
* 2019: Prince Claus Prize insyd the Netherlands.

## References



## External links

* Photos of installation by Bill Kouélany