Clothing, video and photo exhibition, including happenings
A suit fashioned from gold and silver paper, clothes made from bamboo and an enormous tunic of Mayaka beads featuring a portrait of the prophet Simon Kimbangu: these are a few of the artistic, eco-friendly garments designed by the Sapeurs of Kinshasa. Several living traditions feature in this project from Yves Sambu. In Congo, the Mayaka bead, for example, has always been the insignia of Bantu chieftains while Simon Kimbangu brought Bantu spirituality to his new Christian church. The Société des Ambianceurs et Personnes Élégantes (Society of Atmosphere-setters and Elegant People), or SAPEUR, is the name adopted since the second war by a community of bohemians who devote their lives to the pursuit of sartorial elegance. All share the belief that aesthetics is an expression of dignity and sovereignty.
©Julian Blight
©Julian Blight
© Margaux Kolly
© Margaux Kolly
© Margaux Kolly
© Margaux Kolly
© Margaux Kolly
© Margaux Kolly
Concept and video Yves SambuMayaka Design Koko Lema, Isasi Bongonda Migo Bamboo Design Eddy Masumbuku Paper Design Cedrick Mbengi Sapeurs Michel Bundu, Cedrick Mbengi Sapeur Stylist Kadithoza Production Belluard Bollwerk International
Sponsored by the Canton of Fribourg Cultural Promotion Fund and supported by Migros Culture Percentage, co-funder of the call for projects LIVING TRADITIONS.
Presentation with the support of Fonds culturel Sud, Gubler-Hablützel Stiftung
