The Grey Lady recently had
an article about Congolese artist Bodys Isek Kingelez receiving his first exhibition in America (three years after he died, unfortunately) at the MoMA.
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| "Ville de Sète 3009" by Bodys Isek Kingelez, image via New York Times |
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| "Ville Fantôme" by Bodys Isek Kingelez, image via New York Times |
Kingelez sounds like he was an outsider artist. He had no formal artistic or architectural training. He built these model buildings and cities in his home using consumer-grade and found materials. He designed them as he built, without drawing plans or studies beforehand. The
Times' critic is especially impressed with Kingelez's
"consistency of style", his
"multitude of references" to other architectural styles, and the way he uses those references:
"every suggestion is fastidiously integrated".
The MoMA is calling this exhibit "City Dreams." I mean in no way to diminish Kingelez's artistic accomplishment when I say that to me, these look like set-pieces in a game I want to play - colorful, vibrant, playful, hallucinogenic cities I want to explore.
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| "UN" by Bodys Isek Kingelez, image via New York Times |
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| "Canada Dry" by Bodys Isek Kingelez, image via New York Times |
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