SOLO EXHIBITION
AU COEUR DE LA VIE
MASAKI NDONGA
15 MAY - 21 JUNE 2025
Join us on May 15 from 6:30 PM at the Institut Français of Kinshasa, Halle de la Gombe , 33, Avenue de la Gombe.
AU COEUR DE LA VIE
Masaki NDONGA
curated by Christian LEPIRA
15 MAY 2025 : KINSHASA
Masaki Ndonga is pleased to present Au Coeur de la Vie (At the Heart of Life), a landmark exhibition curated by Christian Lepira, on view at the Institut Français of Kinshasa – Halle de la Gombe, from May 15 to June 21, 2025.
Renowned for his flamboyant and vibrant impressionism, Masaki Ndonga has, for several years, been composing a living fresco of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
From the bustling markets of Kinshasa to major cities like Matadi, from the lush landscapes of Ubangi to the far eastern reaches of Goma, his work explores the many faces of the country with authenticity, elegance, and intensity.
His paintings are a poignant tribute to his homeland, bearing witness to its transformations. Through At the Heart of Life, the artist invites us to contemplate a Congo made of contrasts, traditions, hardships, resilience, and beauty, always moved by a shared force: that of hope and celebration.
In his visual language, Masaki Ndonga tells us: “Let us live, and let Congo live.”
Là où le Fleuve se Souvient
Acrylique sur toile, 120 x 120 cm, 2025
Beta Olonga
Acrylique sur toile, 120 x 120 cm, 2025
Masaki NDONGA, the Prodigy
Masaki Ndonga is an emerging visual artist from the Democratic Republic of Congo. A contemporary artist with a sharp eye, he draws his first inspirations from the vibrant daily life of the Selembao market, where he grew up.
While his mother sold wax prints and fabrics there, young Masaki—an acute observer—absorbed the daily bustle: the crowds, rain-soaked streets, street barbers, gatherings of women... In silence, he observed this living microcosm of Congolese society, which he began to depict at an early age on paper and cardboard.
Gifted from a young age, he naturally went on to study at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa, supported by his parents. There, he found his path and graduated before refining his technique further at the Bototo College studio.
Gradually moving from drawings on paper to painting on canvas, he developed a distinctive artistic signature—marked by strong expressiveness and a keen sense of composition.
His works have since been exhibited in several galleries and cultural institutions, including the Académie des Beaux-Arts, Espace Wallonie-Bruxelles, Mukina Gallery, the Pullman Hotel in Kinshasa, and Bina Gallery in Brussels.
His encounter with Christian Lepira marked a turning point in his career.
Their collaboration sparked a new chapter of artistic recognition, fueled by intellectual kinship and a shared vision of art as a living mirror of Congolese realities.
At the Heart of Life is the culmination of two years of observation and reflection, the first major work born from the meeting of a prodigy and a passionate curator.
Entre balles et bétail (Les bergers de l’espérance)
Acrylique sur toile, 100 x 100 cm, 2024
L’économie du coeur (Reines sans couronnes)
Acrylique sur toile, 120 x 120 cm, 2025
Christian LEPIRA, the Passionate
To understand At the Heart of Life is to understand a meeting: that of Masaki Ndonga, the prodigy, and Christian Lepira, the passionate devotee.
Originally from Kinshasa, Christian Lepira is a cultural operator who made his name within the music industry, where he stood out for his deep commitment to promoting Congolese talent.
An avid art enthusiast, he began building a personal collection of Congolese artworks in 2017, affirming his deep connection to the artistic heritage of his country.
His encounter with Masaki Ndonga began as a collector, moved by the vitality of the artist’s work.
That meeting soon became the starting point of a strong artistic collaboration, fueled by a shared vision: to make Congolese realities visible through a sincere and rigorous aesthetic.
Today, Christian Lepira brings his expertise in cultural valorization and his gift for curation to the field of visual arts. As curator of At the Heart of Life, he reaches a new milestone in his career, driven by the ambition to broaden recognition for Congolese artists, both nationally and internationally.
Through this exhibition, he invites the public into a sensitive and authentic immersion deep into Congolese daily life, elevated through the singular gaze of Masaki Ndonga.
La Traversée vers le Savoir
Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 120 cm, 2025
Ciseaux d’or
Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 120 cm, 2025
Join us on May 15 from 6:30 PM at the Institut Français of Kinshasa, Halle de la Gombe , 33, Avenue de la Gombe.
Au Coeur de la Vie (At the Heart of Life) On view from May 15 to June 21, 2025.