15/05/2026
In his striking new paintings, Eddy Kamuanga reflects on the enduring legacies of colonial exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The works draw on the period in which King Leopold II of Belgium tasked European naturalists with cataloguing local fauna and flora, while experimenting on ‘exotic species’ to increase their economic potential. An entire economy developed around the extraction of rubber — often referred to as ‘red rubber’ because of the brutal violence associated with its production — forcing native labourers to harvest it from vines deep within the forests. Kamuanga also references the cultivation of non-native crops such as cotton and coffee, tracing how these systems reshaped both the environment and everyday life.
Despite these histories, the paintings are grounded in resilience. Through their scale and contemplative stillness, Kamuanga’s figures honour the strength and endurance of local communities.
🗓️ ‘Inheriting the Future’ continues until Saturday, 16th May, 2026
📍 October Gallery
📧 For sales enquiries, please contact: [email protected]
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Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, ‘Eala’, 2025
Acrylic and oil on canvas, 188.5 x 203.5 cm
Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, ‘Balance’, 2026
Acrylic and oil on canvas, 142 x 134 cm
Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, ‘Gardiennes’, 2025
Acrylic and oil on canvas, 120 x 120 cm
Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, ‘Artefact’, 2026
Acrylic and oil on canvas, 170 x 150 cm
