STEVE BANDOMA: SUBVERSIVE BRICOLEUR.

By Nii B. Andrews.

When a true artist engages in bricolage, s/he will break new ground or shed new light on important issues.

Steve Bandoma by using the human form as a pivotal part of his mixed media installations has succeeded in becoming a subversive bricoleur.

His assemblages contain consumer objects, classical and mythical icons, monsters with hybrid and distorted features; allegorical, symbolic allusions; beauty and abject horror.

Thus Bandoma is able to offer an intense and nuanced commentary on the past and present – be it politics, religion or identity.

In short Bandoma posits the fragility and instability of the human condition through his intelligent use of myriad visual cues.

The vast majority of his work involves mixed media on paper and he employs a wholly unpredictable mode of application of paint or ink; he is not afraid to explore concepts nor innovate.

Bandoma is a graduate from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where he currently lives and works.

He has had several solo exhibitions in the DRC and South Africa, in Europe, the USA and the United Kingdom.

The Sulger-Buel Gallery in London, will hold a solo exhibition for Bandoma from Sept 17 to October 17, 2020; it will be entitled, ‘Camouflages’.

1 thought on “STEVE BANDOMA: SUBVERSIVE BRICOLEUR.”

  1. Outstanding imagery. I agree regarding his unpredictable applications of media and yes the beautiful horror of the human condition. Thank you for bringing another visionary to our attention.

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