​Contemporary South African Art

J-P Mika

Born in 1980, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo 
Lives and works in Kinshasa 

JP Mika took an early interest in drawing and ornamentation and attended the painting department of the Kinshasa Academy of Fine Art. He also went to ARAP, The Popular Art Research Studio created by the artist Chéri Chérin who later became his “Master”. There, he improved his skills and became a member of APPO, The Popular Painters Society. In 2004, he established his own Studio and named it EBA, The Fine Arts Events. He is an outstanding draftsman and he has long borrowed the themes and compositions of his elders and his mentor Chéri Chérin. As Chéri Samba before him, Mika puts himself on stage in his works, painting self portraits or adding himself in group composition - most of the time dressed as a “sapeur” (group of well-dressed men). For the last couple of years, he has develop his own style concentrated on portraits and simplifying his composition by using colourful fabrics that he uses as a background. This “finding” and the perfect use of colour provides a positive energy to his work and that now profoundly stands out from his peers. His very realistic paintings are nevertheless benevolent and whatever the subject, he gently and kindly paints a modern, dynamic and happy Africa. 

EXHIBITIONS 

2016 
The Great Animal Orchestra, Fondation Cartier Paris, France 

2015 
1:54, Contemporary African Art Fair, New-York, USA 

Art Genève, galerie Magnin-a, Geneva, Switzerland 

Beauté Congo - Congo Kitoko, Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris - France 

2013 
Kin-Babi, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire 

J-P Mika, Moke Fils et Alfi Alfa, GAC, Lubumbashi, DRC 

Réalismes de la vie moderne tragico-comique chachacha, GAC Fondation Rachel Forrest, Katanga, DRC 

Kin Na Madrid, Edith Mbella Gallery, Madrid, Spain 

2012 
J-P Mika, Chéri Chérin, Freddy Mutombo et Francis Mampuya, Galerie Out of Africa, Benasque, Spain 

2011 
Kin Moto Na, Anvers, Belgium 

2010 
Exhibition organized by UNMACC pour la journée internationale de lutte anti mines à l’hôtel Memling de Kinshasa. 

Symphonie des arts à Kinshasa, For the 50th anniversary of the independence of DRC 

5th Festival Socio Culturel de la Tshangu, Kinshasa, DRC 

AFRICA Time, New York, USA 

2009 
J-P Mika, Chéri Samba, Chéri Chérin, Rhode Makoumbu, et Tonton Kabeya, Galerie Kalao, Bilbao., Spain 

3rd Festival Socio Culturel de la Tshangu, Kinshasa, DRC 

Salon d’art contemporain Africain, Espace Pierre Cardin, Paris, France 

Galerie Artitude, Paris, France 

49 ans de l’indépendance, Kinshasa 

2008 
Como esta africa ?, Bilbao, Spain 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

2015 
Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko, Fondation Cartier, Exhibition catalogue