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Interview with Masela Nkolo
Masela Nkolo is a multidisciplinary artist who resides in Atlanta. He was born in Kinshasa, Congo where he graduated in fine arts with an emphasis on large-scale sculpture from the Academy of Fine Arts. After failing his first year in art college, the course of sculpting allowed him to confront his identity as a Congolese and reap the benefits of his heritage.
Afterward, Masela quickly joined his friends in an art movement in the streets of Kinshasa. Together they called their movement “Neo-Ngongism.” They started out exhibiting in the streets with the goal of awakening the consciences of the population through the arts.
Nkolo’s syncretic pieces blend classic and contemporary African elements, drawing inspiration from his Congolese heritage. He transforms materials like oil lanterns and screwdrivers into sculptures that represent the historical and contemporary identity of Congo. His work aims to manifest ancestral characteristics, celebrating African pride and resilience.
His work has previously been exhibited at various galleries such as Johnson Lowe Gallery, MOCA GA; the Mint Museum, NC and Artfields, SC. In 2022 Masela was awarded a juror’s choice at MOCA GA in the biennial. Most recently, he received distinguished awards such as the Artfields category award solo exhibition.
One of the effects of the Congo Civil War was a lack of electricity. This led to the necessity of oil lanterns. Initially, as a child, I repaired lanterns for the neighborhood as a means of income. As I began developing artistically, I started collecting old lanterns and other objects from the garbage, deconstructing, and reconstructing them into creatures to represent human beings and personal experiences. What started off as a necessity of life became my inspiration and a form of artistic expression.
My creative process began with a desire to connect my Congolese heritage with contemporary art. My artwork draws its strength from the cultural expressions of the Songwe, Pende, Yaka, and Kuba people of the Congo, as well as the Baule of the Ivory Coast and the Benin styles of Nigeria. These skilled ironworkers, talented embroiderers, and capable woodcarvers displayed a uniqueness in their artwork that is truly one of a kind. This research explores and honors a variety of shared and overlooked practices in order to visually speak to a contemporary sense of cultural hybridity.
My process of using screwdrivers is inspired by the Kongo “Yombe” practice called “Bibaaku,” which is the action of inserting nails or pieces of metal into a Nkisi. A Nkisi is a Congolese statute that is used to bind an agreement, keep away malevolent spirits, drive away people intent on doing harm, or prevent or cure illnesses. The Nkisi nails indicate the number of times the sculpture was ritually activated.
The screwdrivers which I used as a child during the civil war as a means of protection, are now disconnected from their primordial use as a weapon. Being used within another context, the efficacy of the screwdrivers is for the aesthetic, philosophical, and emotional dimensions of my masks. In the same way the nails are inserted into the Nkisi, the welded screwdrivers on my masks indicate the number of times my sculptures are ritually activated with positivity rather than violence and its forms within my community.
When I create sculptures and installations, my goal is to manifest these ancestral characteristics so that they can hopefully become visible within our communities and our world. My passionate desire is to create artwork that can be a source of excitement for one and escape for another.
Read our interview below to get a glimpse into Masela Nkolo’s creative journey:
In your journey as an artist, what has been the most unexpected experience, realization, or challenge?
One of the biggest challenges for me has been as a result of immigrating to the USA. Learning to navigate the artistic landscape in such a different land and adapting to a new environment has been the most difficult.
Beyond visual art, are there other creative pursuits that inspire your work? How do you integrate these influences into your practice?
This is a very good question. I think everyday life in general and history in particular are my sources of inspiration. However, I don’t try to integrate them into my work. Rather, they exist at the same time because they are the experiences of us humans.
What are your aspirations for the broader artistic community, particularly in terms of diversity and representation?
I think the best way to invest in the artistic community is in three important dimensions: physical, moral, and spiritual. My aspiration within the community is a vision of giving light to artists, that is to say, offering opportunities through various programs. Also, I see myself in the future as an instructor of young artists.
What legacy do you hope to leave through your art?
I dare to believe there are two important things that I can leave to the next generation. That is my unique imprint in an identity form, firstly on identity, and secondly on existence.
What’s next for you and your artistry? Where do you see your creativity taking you?
My next step is to intensify my energy in combating the violence which has persisted in my country Congo for more than 24 years. Through my art, I want to be a voice for the voiceless Congolese. I’m looking for opportunities to make people aware of eight million people being killed in Congo and stolen from. All in all, I hope that my creations will lead to reflections and solutions in the future.
Artist Contact Info
Website: maselankolo.art
Instagram: @arts_nkolo
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