Homo detritus

The Democratic Republic of Congo is most affected by the lack of accountability of manufacturers relocating and outsourcing huge landfills on its soil. This has led to a folk-art movement called "Ndaku ya la vie est belle" created by street children and artists from Kinshasa's Academy of Fine Arts. Stéphan Gladieu creates a series of totemic portraits merging documentary photography with artistic practice to highlight the militant artists surrealist silhouettes and vibrant creations. These portraits tell a story of creative talent passed on despite the attacks of consumerism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2022
Publisher: Actes Sud

The issue of waste management, particularly plastic, has reached unprecedented levels of concern on a global scale. The Democratic Republic of Congo, among many countries, faces significant challenges due to the lack of accountability of manufacturers who relocate and outsource massive landfills on its soil. Despite the country's immense mineral wealth, the Congolese people are overwhelmed by the waste left behind by goods produced using their resources and labor, yet designed for other markets.

A remarkable folk-art movement has emerged from the junkyards of Kinshasa. Dressed in masks and costumes crafted from rubbish, a generation of street children and artists from Kinshasa's Academy of Fine Arts have united to create "Ndaku ya la vie est belle." Founded in 2015 by visual artist Eddy Ekete, this art collective brings together 25 creators who draw inspiration from ancestral clothing arts to combat the ecological disaster their country faces.

To amplify their struggle and celebrate their craft, Stéphan Gladieu has embarked on a series of totemic portraits that merge documentary photography with artistic practice. In a live studio set up on the streets of Kinshasa, he showcases the surrealist silhouettes and vibrant creations of the militant artists. Introduced by novelist Wilfried Nsondé, these portraits tell a story of creative talent passed down despite the attacks of consumerism.

Weight: 988g
Dimension: 247 x 326 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9782330167486