In December 2005, Bruno Vekemans decided for the first

time in his oeuvre to create an extensive series of artworks

on a particular theme.

In May of 2006 Bruno Vekemans stayed in Kinshasa, Congo

- 2 months prior to the first round of the first democratic

elections in 40 years - to prepare for a series of gouaches,

oils on canvas and verres églomisés.

His physical presence and the emotional experience of this

study trip to Kinshasa made an overwhelming impression

on Bruno Vekemans, both as a person and as an artist.

Bruno Vekemans allowed this project to occupy two years

of his life.

At the centre of it all lies authenticity.

Bruno Vekemans is a personality, and, beyond that, a man

with a great deal of respect for other people, both in his

daily life and as subjects.

He retains everything of the authentic artist, and has been

painting since the age of seven. Throughout his career, Bruno

Vekemans has always maintained that he does not like to

theorise or even philosophise about his work. His life and his

mission are simply to paint. That reflexive response reveals

how his art is a highly intuitive and everyday activity to him.

The black people portrayed in Kinshasa have an

individuality and naturalness no longer apparent in West

Europeans. They are not affected; neither are they

influenced by the media: qualities that enable Bruno

Vekemans to portray them in their full glory. He gives the

Congolese a starring role.

The image material - photos and film - collected as a sort of

sketchbook for this series, is "genuine" and experienced by

the artist.

This art book recreates that Kinshasa Congo experience for

the reader, not only through its text, but also and above all

through its images.