Base King

Object Details

Bodys Isek Kingelez, 1948-2015, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Label Text

Body Isek Kingelez wrote that his art was his way to contribute to a decolonized Africa, with his urban cityscapes serving as a vehicle for reimagining Africa’s collective future. He built small models of futuristic, utopian cityscapes fashioned from repurposed, found materials. The dynamic energy centered in the sprawling urban center of Kinshasa inspired Kingelez’s work, though many of his detailed structures were his own invention.

From his early urban building to his vibrant cityscapes, Kingelez envisioned a progressive way of living—a way of regeneration. Over the course of his prolific career, Kingelez created more than 300 sculptures ranging from individual structures to entire cities boasting colorful skyscrapers, stadiums, parks, monuments, waterways, and wide avenues. A representation of a single address in a cityscape, in its idealized architectural forms and meticulous details Base King is consistent with the artist’s more expansive cityscapes.

Description

Colorful mixed media sculpture featuring a tall skyscraper rising above smaller urban buildings fashioned from cardboard, plastic, pins, pen and paint. Green, red, silver, and blue hues predominate.

Provenance

Private collection, Paris

Acquired from the above by private owner

Lot 11 in Sotheby’s 28 March 2018 Modern and Contemporary African Art sale

Published References

Beauté Congo, Fondation Cartier, Paris, 2015-2016, p. 253

Content Statement

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Image Requests

High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by the Annie Laurie Aitken Endowment

2000

Object number

2018-13-1

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Sculpture

Medium

Cardboard, plastic, pins, card, glue, pen and paint

Dimensions

H x W x D: 75.8 × 34.2 × 25.3 cm (29 13/16 × 13 7/16 × 9 15/16 in.)

Geography

Democratic Republic of the Congo

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National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Record ID

nmafa_2018-13-1

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7380ccc90-da04-455d-9da3-7b0d4e50b219