After studying Fine Arts in Kinshasa for a year, Francis Mampuya chose to move on to avoid an academicism that asphyxiated him. With two friends he founded the “Libristes” group, favouring artistic freedom. Finally each member went their own way, but the seed had been sown. In 1997, he was awarded the Missio prize in Germany. Francis Mampuya’s universe alternates between semi figurative and abstract art, the abstraction always being suggestive. Although the first impact is that of bright colours with a predominance of blue and red, his purpose is rather more sombre, showing a pain that is very near. Faces are rendered without mouths, because the voice of the people is silenced and inaudible, and silhouettes are vague and blurred because all is uncertain, all is in disorder.
