Congolese painter Zemba Luzamba has created a series of art pieces that explore how animals are represented in fables and totems. As well as their role as sacred symbols of cultural heritage that represent a collective identity. Through the use of figurative elements, fashion motifs, and colors, these creations scrutinize how we perceive and evaluate character. Unlike his politically charged works, this recent collection is lighthearted. with a spiritual yet childlike tone that invites viewers to reflect on the intricacies of identity.
Luzamba’s paintings are reminiscent of the connection between Spanish artist Pablo Picasso and the Minotaur. A terrifying creature from Greek mythology with a human body and a bull’s head. From the 1920s to the 1970s, the Minotaur served as a recurring theme in Picasso’s art. As he once stated, “If all the paths I have taken were marked on a map and joined together, they might form a Minotaur.” In a similar way, Luzamba’s artwork implies a comparable relationship between the characters and the animals they are depicted with.
The fable of the Raven and the Fox by Jean de la Fontaine is a crucial inspiration for the exhibition. The story conveys a warning about the perils of flattery featuring a raven deceived by a fox. The raven who is perched in a tree holding food in its beak is tricked into dropping its meal to the ground by the cunning fox’s insincere praise. This fable offers various insights. Luzamba’s painting of the same name portrays all the characters separated from one another with the well-dressed man staring directly at the viewer, oblivious to the animals nearby.
Despite the conceptual and stylistic changes in this body of work, fashion and dress code remain integral elements of Luzamba’s practice. The characters are flawlessly dressed wearing accessories that hint at their age and social status. Additionally, the artist departs from his signature block color backgrounds to create more expressive depictions of space.
Overall, TOTEM invites viewers into an anthropomorphic world that challenges them to reevaluate their perceptions of others’ nature. Through playful and spiritually charged imagery, Luzamba prompts us to reflect on the complexity of identity and the relationships we form with animals.
