Aimé Mpane

**Aimé Mpane** (born 1968) be an artist wey komot de Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) wey dey divide ein time between Brussels den Kinshasa. Dem born am during de regime of Mobutu Sese Seko, ein early life insyd de DRC den de atrocities King Leopold II den de Belgians commit heavily influence ein work. Ein art sanso dey depict de culture of de DRC den de relationship between Europe den Africa. Na dem call Mpane "one of the most important artists of African origin to this day" wey na he participate insyd solo den group exhibitions insyd Africa, Europe, den North America. He dey use an adze take create ein sculptures den dey often work for night anaa by candlelight.

Ein work insyd he create a sculpture insyd de Royal Museum for Central Africa, dem now dey call de AfricaMuseum, make e replace a statue of Leopold wey na dem komot during a major renovation wey na dem cover insyd chaw articles. Ein work, *New Breath, or the Burgeoning Congo*, na dem mean make e "balance" de racist statues den imagery found insyd de museum ein Great Rotunda. Na der be continued criticism say ein den oda changes dem make thru out de museum na e no dey fully address de museum ein racist history. Na dem add a second sculpture, den, dey work plus a Belgian artist, Mpane add semi-transparent veils for front of de statues insyd a project call RE/STORE.

Mpane be a humanist wey dey adhere to de Ubuntu philosophy. He dey believe say instead of make dem dey argue over past events, Europeans den Africans for "restore, not repair," dema relationship. An example of dis be a sculpture he make for front of de Belgian embassy insyd Kinshasa wey dey depict a black man dey greet a white man. Na Mpane be critical of de Black Lives Matter movement, dey talk say he no dey agree plus ein tactics.

## Early life

Na dem born Aimé Mpane insyd 1968 insyd modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a few years after de Congo Crisis end den during de rule of military dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. Na ein poppie be a cabinetmaker den sculptor, wey na ein grandpoppie sanso work plus wood. Insyd school, na dem teach Mpane history books publish by Belgian publishers. De books portray King Leopold II, wey na he be responsible for de deaths of millions of Congo Free State citizens, as a great leader. Na dem sanso teach Mpane say na de Congolese descend from de Gauls. Na dis be de suppose reason Belgians be dema rulers.

Mpane move go Kinshasa wen na he be 15. Shortly after ein arrival, na dem biz am make he draw images for banners wey dey promote films. Na de banners dey for display for months, wich Mpane dey call ein first exhibition. He later attend school for de Institut des Beaux-Arts, wer he graduate insyd sculpture work insyd 1987. He earn ein Bachelor of Fine Arts for de Académie des Beaux-Arts insyd 1990.

Na dem award Mpane first place for a 1996 Centre International des Civilisations Bantu competition, wey he dey represent de DRCH. He earn ein Master of Fine Arts from de École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels insyd 2000. By dat time, na he already participate insyd chaw group exhibitions, wey dey include chaw insyd Belgium den one insyd Canada, den solo exhibitions insyd Belgium den de DRC.
## References


## External links

* "Artist Aimé Mpane visits LACMA", video interview by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
* "Phillips Talks: The Artist Sees Differently with Aimé Mpane", video interview by The Phillips Collection