Biography

Of Bakongo ethnicity, Kina Maua N’Pango was born in 1970 in the village of Quimbele-Uíge, during the conflict for independence from Portuguese colonialism in Angola. At the age of four, she was already a survivor in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Kinshasa, having fled the violence and instability that plagued the region during this tumultuous period of transition.

Kina considers herself a self-made woman. During her teenage years, she developed a passion for painting and began creating art using mainly discarded building materials such as wood, bricks, and leftover wall paint. She learned the art of sculpture and painting as a self-taught artist and perfected her skills over the years by frequenting the studios of artist friends.

N’Pango has exhibited at the United Nations building in Geneva and has collaborated with African governments on works related to environmental preservation. Her artistic themes primarily address racial discrimination and social prejudice.

Recent works like "Fucking N*gger" and "Inside my Shoes" are deeply rooted in the artist's personal experience as a black woman in Europe, directly addressing the theme of racial discrimination she has faced since childhood. Her works also fit into a broader context, highlighting the persistence of colonial history and its current consequences in terms of racism and exploitation of people and resources. This is particularly evident in pieces like "Colonizers and Colonized," "The New Slaves," and "African’s Money." On the other hand, works such as "Lampedusa," "Deportation," and "Walking Underwater" aim to break the silence surrounding the deaths and sufferings of migrants crossing the Mediterranean day after day. Through the use of materials and installations, the artist seeks to confront the audience with the harsh realities of these migratory processes. Here, N’Pango intends to give voice to those who, having risked their lives crossing the Mediterranean, face discrimination and disdain in the countries they arrive in.