Léonard Pongo

When you make a reservation for an expo, you can go whenever you intend to between the opening and closing of the exhibition. The confirmation email refers to the first date of the exhibition.

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What do you hear when you listen to the earth? Belgian-Congolese artist Léonard Pongo (1988) has been roaming the Democratic Republic of Congo for almost ten years, with this question in mind. He has developed a spatial installation specially for FOMU combining photography, video and textiles

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Pongo’s work is rooted in Congolese traditions, symbolism and philosophy. More than just mapping the territory, he seeks to make the experience tangible. Using modified full-spectrum cameras, he captures wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye. His approach produces images that are colourful and sometimes uncanny. They reveal the richness of Congo's natural environment, while reminding us that our gaze is always partial and subjective.

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Although people are absent from his photographs, the relationship between humans and the land lies at the heart of the work. During his journeys, Pongo collaborated with researchers and local communities whose stories and knowledge served as a key source of inspiration. A recurring motif is the banana tree a symbol of life, fertility and cyclical renewal.

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Léonard Pongo’s work will be on show at this year's Venice Biennale and was previously exhibited at Tate Modern, London, and Jeu de Paume, Paris. In 2019 he participated in .tiff, FOMU’s platform for emerging talent. His work is also represented in the FOMU collection.