Kimathi Donkor (b. 1965 Bournemouth, England )
Lives and works in London.
Recent group exhibitions include: What’s Going On at the Usher Gallery, (Lincoln, 2013); Seven things to do in an emergency at the British school at Rome (Rome, 2011) and The 29th São Paulo Biennial (São Paulo, 2010). Solo exhibitions include: Queens of the Undead at Iniva, Rivington Place (London, 2012) and Hawkins & Co at the Market Theatre Gallery, (2008, Armagh). Newly commissioned works will be exhibited for his forthcoming solo show opening in London in September, 2013.
Although his large-format oil paintings draw on antique traditions of elite portraiture and history painting, Donkor’s themes are rooted in the modern, egalitarian freedom struggles of Africa and its Diasporas, and range from depictions of police brutality to the epic adventures of anti-colonial heroines such as Queen Njinga of Angola.
As well as showing his own work, Donkor has received commissions to curate group exhibitions and has been invited to lecture at museums and colleges, including Central Saint Martins and the National Maritime Museum. He has been the recipient of two major research bursaries from the Arts & Humanities Research Council, and writing about his work has appeared in magazines, newspapers and blogs. In recent years, he has participated in education programmes for young people with limited access to the exclusive world of art galleries, such as the Seeing Through project at Tate Britain.
Kimathi Donkor is enrolled on the practice-led Ph.D. programme at Chelsea College of art and Design, where he is researching signs of Africana in British art. He gained his Master’s degree in Fine Art at Camberwell College of Arts in 2010, and his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College in 1987.
Kimathi Donkor (n. 1965 Bournemouth, England )
Vive e trabalha em Londres.
Das exposições colectivas mais recentes destacam-se : What’s Going On at the Usher Gallery, (Lincoln, 2013); Seven things to do in an emergency at the British School em Rome (Rome, 2011) e The 29th São Paulo Biennial (São Paulo, 2010).
Das exposições individuais destacam-se: Queens of the Undead at Iniva, Rivington Place (London, 2012) e Hawkins & Co at the Market Theatre Gallery, (2008, Armagh). Actualmente mostra uma série de projectos patrocinados numa exposição individual que inaugurou este Setembro de 2013 em Londres.
Emboras as suas pinturas de grande formato reflictam uma técnica ligada ao classicismo histórico da categoria de pintura, os temas que Donkor dota as suas telas rondam as categorias e elites de luta de liberdade de uma sociedade Africana e suas diàsporas. Algumas rixas e disputas revelando a brutalidade da policia e as épicas aventuras dos heróis anti-coloniais tais como Queen Njinga de Angola.
Além das mostras do seu trabalho o artista é também convidado a realizar curadorias em exposições colectivas assim como conferências nos mais diversos museus ou Universidades tais como; o National Maritime Museum ou Central Saint Martins.
O artista tem sido premiado com as mais importantes bolsas de investigação dentro das quais pelo Arts & Humanities Research Council, e a sua obra tem sido referenciada nas mais diversas publicações, revistas, jornais e blogues. Nos últimos anos tem também participado em programa educacionais para os mais jovens com necessidades especiais ou com dificuldades de acesso à cultura como exemplo o projecto Seeing Through realizado na Tate Britain.
Kimathi Donkor realiza agora a sua investigação de doutoramento no programa do Chelsea College of art and Design, onde investiga signos Africanos na arte Britânica. Completou o seu Mestrado em Belas Artes pela Camberwell College of Arts em 2010 e é licenciado pelo Goldsmiths College, 1987.