Painted States (087)

Painted States was the first solo exhibition in Denmark by Malawi-born, Oxford-based artist Samson Kambalu. Presented at Andersen’s, the exhibition coincided with the inauguration of the gallery’s new premises at Rentemestervej 49 in Copenhagen NV. For this occasion, Kambalu introduced newly conceived works, including a site-specific installation, video, and paintings.

Balancing philosophy and play, Kambalu is known for performance and video installations with inspirations ranging from Nietzsche to the Nyau ritual of the Chew peoples secret society and its belief system. In his work, the artist subverts the canons on Western philosophy, art and cinemas through the lens of his Malawian heritage, often recurring to an irreverent fusion of social, national and artistic tropes, which are held in juxtaposition to his playful and provocative spirit. His aim is to skew our reading of cultural behaviour and customs and to seek out the areas where humanity meets. Born in Malawi, his work fuses aspects of the Nyau masking culture of the Chewa, the antireification theories of the Situationist movement and the Protestant tradition of inquiry, criticism and dissent. Kambalu’s practice often recurs to autobiographical aspects and approaches art as an arena for critical thought and sovereign activities. Kambalu’s first book, an autobiographical novel of his childhood upbringing in Malawi, The Jive Talker, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2008 and toured around Europe for four years. He has been featured in major exhibitions and projects worldwide, including the Dakar Biennale (2014, 2016), Tokyo International Art Festival (2009) and the Liverpool Biennial (2004, 2016). He was included in All the World’s Futures, Venice Biennale 2015, curated by Okwui Enwezor. His public sculpture Antelope, featuring the Malawian Baptist Preacher and Pan-Africanist John Chilembwe, has been selected to go on the Fourth Plinth, in Trafalgar Square, London, in 2022.