The Jean Pigozzi African Art Collection

Pierre Bodo

Born 1953, Mandu, Belgian Congo.

Died 2015, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Pierre Bodo was one of the founders and key proponents with Moke and Chéri Samba of what has come to be known as the Zaïre school of popular painting. Their works state vigorously and candidly their belief in their capacity to create art that could change the course of history. Bodo chooses to paint anything and describe everything that he has seen and experienced. His works then successively became chronicles, pamphlets, manifestos, demands or advice. His objectives are not selfish: he is a popular painter. One of his main themes was the “Ndoki Zoba” (sorcery) and the aim of these paintings was to advise abandoning the practice of sorcery. In 1980, he converted to Christianity, and joined the Pentecostal church. He became one of the most impassioned pastors of “world evangelism,” and was convinced that it would change his life.

In the early 1990s, he improved his style considerably so as to be able “to express my major personal ideas and have more impact. My goals being: the improvement of life, and of visible things, and to share my dreams of a better world.” Thereafter he dealt with symbolic or fantasy subject matter, with a strange imagination that was fed by his dreams. “I express everything that happens to me, so that I am no longer focused on specifically African topics and can address myself to the entire world.” The titles of his works: River of Delights, Ignorance, or Love, the Source of Life, perfectly echo his beliefs and his aesthetic aims.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2013

Pierre BODO : L’oeil du voyant

Musée du Montparnasse, Paris

2000

Bodo, peintre congolais

Hôtel Sponeck

Montbéliard - France

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2017

On aime l'art...!! Un choix d'Éric Mézil parmi les oeuvres de la Collection agnès b., Collection Lambert en Avignon, France

Gaia à travers ses miroirs, Villa des Arts, Rabbat, Marrocco(for the event L'Afrique en Capitale)

2016

Galeristes, Carreau du temple, Paris, France

Essentiel Paysage, Al Maaden Art Gallery, Contemporary African Art Center, Marrakech, Morocco

The Great Animal Orchestra, Fondation Cartier Paris, France

2015

Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko, Fondation Cartier, Paris, France

2013

Les peintures du Congo d’aujourd’hui, Musée Baron Martin, Gray, France

2013

KIN-BABI, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, Abidjan

2011

JAPANCONGO, Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, Moscow, Russia

JapanCongo

Magasin Grenoble, France

Riad Al Maaden, Marrakech

South is the new North, Influx Contemporary Art, Lisbon, Portugal

2010

African Stories

Marrakech Art Fair, Marrakech

Kinshasa Pop, Galerie Pangée, Montreal

Emerging Art from Kinshasa, Jack Bell Gallery, London

Africa 2.0 > is there a 'contemporary african art?, Influx Contemporary Art, Lisbon, Portugal

2009 - 2010

Africa? Una nuova storia

Complesso del Vittoriano, Rome, Italy

2007/2008

Why Africa?

Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli

Turin, Italy

2007/2008

"Popular Painting" from Kinshasa

Tate Modern, (Room 10)

London – U.K.

2006/2007

12 Oct- 18 féb 2007

100% Africa

Guggenheim Museum

Bilbao, Spain

2005

Arts of Africa

Grimaldi Forum

Monaco - France

2005

African Art Now : Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection

Museum of Fine Art Houston

Houston - USA

2004

Les Afriques

Tri Postal

Lille - France

2003

Kin Moto na Bruxelles

Hôtel de Ville

Brussels – Belgium

2003

Kin moto na Posada

Posada Art Books

Brussels - Belgium

2002

Galerie Marc Dengis

Brussels – Belgium

2001

La Cité dans la Peinture Populaire.

Wallonie-Bruxelles Center.

Cultural Center Ku Ntwala (IPN), Belgium.

1996

Bomoi Mobimba -Toute la Vie

Fine Art Palace.

Charleroi, France.

1995

Carte Blanche

Lucien Binelli Gallery.

Bruxelles, Belgium.

Cirque Divers Gallery.

Liege, Belgium.

1993

Bonne Année

Lucien Binelli Gallery.

Bruxelles, Belgium.

1985

Peintres Populaires du Zaïre, l'Art Vivant d'Afrique Centrale

University of Montreal, Canada.

Trompe-l'œil Gallery, Quebec.

1982

Sura Dji

Visages et Racines du Zaïre RDC

Museum of Decorative Arts, Paris.

1981-1980

Cultural French Center.

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

1979

Modern Kunst aus Africa

" Horizante " 79.

I. Festival der Weltkulturen

Staatliche Kunsthalle, Berlin.

Bremen, Stockholm, Erlangen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London.

1978

Art Partout/Art Everywhere

Fine Arts Academy CIAF.

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2017

Un collectionneur - Un regard contemporain sur l'art africain, Musée Mohammed VI d'art moderne et contemporain, Fondation nationale des musées, p. 33

Essentiel Paysage - Artistes Contemporains Africains face à l'environnement, catalogue d'exposition, Fondation Alliances, Musée MACAAL, sous la direction de Brahim Alaoui, p. 103

2015

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

2007

Why Africa?

Exhibition catalogue. Published by Electa & Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli.

2006

100% Africa

Exhibition catalogue. Published by TF Editores & FMGB Guggenheim Bilbao Museum.

2005

Arts of Africa: The Contemporary Collection of Jean Pigozzi

Exhibition catalogue. Published by Skira Edition & Grimaldi Forum Monaco.

2005

African Art Now: Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection

Exhibition catalogue. Published by Merrell.

2003

Kin moto na Bruxelles

Exhibition Catalogue. Edited by Bruxelles-Musées-Expositions. Published by Ville de Bruxelles. P. 103 – 113.

2003

Editions de l’Oeil

« Les carnets de la création : R. D. Congo ». Text by Joseph Ibongo Gilungula.

l'Oeil Editions, 2003. Pg 24.

2002

Titouan Congo Kinshasa

Titouan Lamazou, Paris, Gallimard.

1996

Bomoi Mobimba -Toute la Vie.

Exhibition catalogue Bodo p.33-83.

Fine Arts Palace.

Charleroi, France.