SISQO NDOMBE AKISIEFUL | Shouting The Victim’s Pain | An Exclusive Interview

Shouting The Victim’s Pain
An Exclusive Interview With
SISQO NDOMBE AKISIEFUL

By Ariel SU

Sisqo Ndombe Akisieful is a Congolese painter born in 1985 in Kikwit, the main city of the Kwilu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Passionate about drawing since childhood, after his primary and secondary studies, his taste for drawing led him to integrate into the Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa to train in the know-how of arts to perfect his look and his practice where; after several years of learning, Ndombe obtained a degree in Plastic Arts.
“I paint everything that affects humans,” he says. Ndombe features characters that captivate and hold the admirer’s gaze. He places this gaze at the heart of his artistic creation and existential and social questioning. Questioning and interpellating eyes that solicit and invite the viewer’s gaze simultaneously. Then a dialectic and a trade are established, a game of back and forth on what the eyes of the artist observe, perceive and seize in his societal environment.
Through the glances, Ndombe’s questions reflect and make the viewer think seductively. The gaze in these works is that of the creator, the artist, and the viewer who crosses the gaze of the painted character. This share of otherness puts in the scene a crossing of three glances that express three understandings: of the artist, the viewer, and the character with the realities of Congolese society. A society undermined by multiple problems and conflicts, with unfortunate consequences, sometimes negative for a population “victim.”

Tired of seeing all the sufferings and injustices the people undergo independently of their will. “It’s time to take itself in hand and not let itself be distracted or fooled by its false rescuers who are accomplices of those who dominate it.” He says.
Through the eyes of his characters, his work is a call to wake up, to be vigilant, and invites a deep reflection on the situation his country is going through. He asserts his own style by pushing the limits of painting with a touch as seductive and unpredictable as he paints with his fingers to obtain beautiful shades that allow him to add the effects of cracks on the faces of his characters. These cracks are a symbolic exaltation of all the sufferings that the population undergoes independently in its “inner self,” which, in complicity with the look, escape in the expression of the eyes
The ancestral hairstyles that intervened in his creation are one of the most popular means of expression in the history of Africa.
If they are considered today as superficial, without interest, and having a purely aesthetic aim, the African braids constituted, a few years ago, a fundamental element in the culture of the continent. They were anchored in traditional African values and served as a means of expression.
The gaze in Ndombe’s work is both symbolic and revealing of the looked at towards the beholder, of the observed towards the beholder.

An Exclusive Interview With
SISQO NDOMBE AKISIEFUL | By Ariel SU

Art Market Magazine: Thank you for this interview, Sisqo. We were overwhelmed by your sophisticated art. After going deeper and reading about your art, we have found out that the main focus of your art is to express and point out the social problems in your country. But let’s start from the beginning. You grew up in Kikwit, the main city of the Kwilu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and you graduated from the University of Kikwit with a degree in Plastic Arts. Tell us what drew you to academic studies in the first place? Tell us about your journey in the art field.

SISQO NDOMBE AKISIEFUL:
Your question is truly appreciated, and I am honored to introduce myself as Sisqo Ndombe Akisieful, a Congolese painter and artist hailing from Kikwit, with Kinshasa being my hometown and the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
My journey into the world of art began at a tender age through my own personal experience with drawing.
My passion and talent for drawing soon became an integral part of me, and the urban environment and its expression, particularly mural painting, played a major role in influencing and honing my skills over the years.
My thirst for knowledge and artistic growth led me to pursue formal training in the field of plastic arts.
I spent several years acquiring knowledge and perfecting my craft and eventually obtained my diploma from the esteemed Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa. Through my exposure to various fields of artistic creation, I realized that my true calling lay in the realm of painting. Thus, I made the decision to devote myself entirely to this passion and pursue a full-time career as a painter.
Art has always been an innate part of me. Even during my school days, I was known for my impressive drawing skills, which earned the admiration of my teachers. Growing up in a creative environment surrounded by wall painters further fueled my fascination with drawing, materials, shapes, and all aspects of creative arts and creation.
In summary, my journey into the world of art has been a natural and organic progression, driven by my inherent passion and talent and my continuous quest for knowledge and growth.

Art Market Magazine: Your art is focused on the Social problems in your country you wish to point out. Can you tell us about these problems?

S. N. A.: Witnessing the injustices, corruption, mismanagement, and countless other calamities imposed upon us by those in power, we cannot help but feel a deep sense of exhaustion and frustration. It is disheartening to see our people suffer, regardless of their will or circumstance, and to feel powerless in the face of such widespread and systemic issues.
However, we must not allow ourselves to succumb to despair or hopelessness. Rather, we must find the strength to continue fighting for justice and equality and seek meaningful solutions to our communities challenges.
By working together and supporting one another, we can create a better future for ourselves and future generations.

Art Market Magazine: You are mainly presenting portraits of local figures. Tell us about the characters in your art; what is your relation to them? What are their stories?

S. N. A.: To shed some light on my creative process, I would like to share that the vast majority of faces I depict in my artwork are born of my own imagination. Occasionally, I may come across images on the internet that inspires me, but I always strive to modify the subjects to better align with the vision of my art. Therefore, none of the faces in my artwork are recognizable to me or anyone else.
That being said, each of my paintings carries with it a unique story, one that I draw from my daily experiences and those of my friends and acquaintances. These stories are not concocted from thin air; they are rooted in real-life experiences that I have been fortunate enough to witness firsthand.
Through my art, I attempt to provide a voice to those whose stories often go unheard. I am passionate about shedding light on the struggles and hardships faced by individuals in our society, and I strive to bring these issues to the forefront of public discourse through my art.
In summary, I view myself as a storyteller and an eyewitness to the world around me. Through my artwork, I hope to encourage dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of the human experience.

Art Market Magazine: Your work process is very unique; as I understand, you paint with your fingers. Why did you choose this method, and can you describe your workflow from the first coming idea to the final outcome?

S. N. A.: I love working with my fingers instead of brushes. I have established my own style by pushing the limits of painting with a touch as seductive and unpredictable as I paint with my fingers to obtain beautiful shades of the material that allow me to add the effects of cracks on the faces of my characters. The brush comes in at the end; it helps me when I work on the clothing of my characters and other details. I did not always want my works to be a simple representation but a better vector of emotion.
This technique makes my works more beautiful and original. These cracks are a symbolic exaltation of all the sufferings and injustices that the population undergoes independently of their will; the cracks represent the emotion we feel in front of all we live daily.

Art Market Magazine: The figure’s faces are featured extremely powerfully, with details and crucks, contradicting the background, which is usually a one-color surface. Why are only the faces full of details and crucks?

S. N. A.: You will notice that the gaze is at the center of my creation. In my work, I present characters with questioning and interpellation eyes that simultaneously solicit and invite the viewer’s gaze.
These looks express the realities of Congolese society. Through the eyes of my characters, I invite a more profound reflection on the African country’s situation, which the Congo people, in particular, are going through.
Speaking of background, this background is coded; there is a strong message behind it, a message of love. It is not because it remains unicolored that it is neglected. The idea was to attract the attention of the viewer to the background. Again, there is a strong message behind this background. The assembly of flowers is a message of unity and love; we must be united and move away from those who divide us.

Art Market Magazine: You already have an awe-inspiring record of solo and group exhibitions around the world, including at the African museum Constitution Hill Museum in Johannesburg, A solo exhibition at the Art Genesis gallery in LA, USA, a show at the Guo-Hui Art Gallery in NYC among many more. Only a few artists from your country have gained this success. What do you think you do differently? Which steps would you recommend for artists in your country to act to receive international exposure?

S. N. A.: When it comes to achieving success, there is no doubt that hard work is a fundamental prerequisite. Each and every one of us must possess the ability to put in our best effort and strive towards our goals relentlessly. However, it’s not just about the quantity of work we put in but also the quality of our work that ultimately determines the level of success we can attain.
For artists, in particular, the quality of their work is paramount. It’s not enough to simply follow in the footsteps of others or copy existing styles and techniques. The true measure of an artist’s creativity lies in their ability to create something entirely new, a unique artwork that stands out and captures the imagination of their audience.
But being creative alone is not enough. An artist must also be able to effectively communicate their ideas and vision to the world. This requires a mastery of their craft and the ability to articulate their thoughts and feelings in a way that resonates with their audience.
As a society, we are responsible for encouraging and supporting artists who possess these qualities. We must provide them with the necessary resources and platforms to showcase their talents to the world. By doing so, we can elevate their work and ensure that it receives the attention and recognition it deserves.
In conclusion, success in any field, including the arts, requires a combination of hard work, creativity, effective communication, and support from those around us. When these elements come together, the possibilities are limitless, and the potential for success is boundless.

Art Market Magazine: Where can we see your art displayed in the coming year? Are there any exhibitions or art fair participation planned? Where can we purchase your art?

S. N. A.: Allow me to inform you that you have the opportunity to view and acquire my artwork at various galleries that currently represent me. It’s worth noting that several of these galleries operate virtually, meaning you can conveniently make purchases via online platforms such as Artsy.
Moreover, I am thrilled to invite you to my upcoming exhibition on May 10, 2023, at the Future Fair in the bustling metropolis of New York. For this particular event, I will be proudly represented by none other than Rodney Asikhia of Taag Gallery, a respected figure in the art world. Additionally, I have two other exciting events lined up that I will be announcing shortly. To stay updated, please follow my Instagram and Facebook pages, where I will be providing further information as soon as it becomes available.

Read the full Interview Article in Art Market Magazine Issue #80