Aimé Mpane
Congolese painter (b. 1968) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aimé Mpane (born 1968) is an artist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who divides his time between Brussels and Kinshasa. Born during the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko, his early life in the DRC and the atrocities committed by King Leopold II and the Belgians have heavily influenced his work. His art also depicts the culture of the DRC and the relationship between Europe and Africa. Mpane has been called "one of the most important artists of African origin to this day" and has participated in solo and group exhibitions in Africa, Europe, and North America. He uses an adze to create his sculptures and often works at night or by candlelight.
His work in creating a sculpture in the Royal Museum for Central Africa, now called the AfricaMuseum, to replace a statue of Leopold that was removed during a major renovation was covered in many articles. His work, New Breath, or the Burgeoning Congo, was meant to "balance" the racist statues and imagery found in the museum's Great Rotunda. There was continued criticism that it and other changes made throughout the museum did not go far enough. A second sculpture was added and, working with a Belgian artist, Mpane added semi-transparent veils in front of the statues in a project called RE/STORE.
Mpane is a humanist who adheres to the Ubuntu philosophy. He believes that instead of arguing over past events, Europeans and Africans should restore, not repair, their relationship. An example of this is a sculpture made in front of the Belgian embassy in Kinshasa that depicts a black man greeting a white man. Mpane has been critical of the Black Lives Matter movement, saying he does not agree with its tactics.