Amisi François, (Lusangu, 1935. Lives and works... Lot n° 14

Masks, 1968, 72X48,5 cm François Amisi is an academician at the root of different painting styles. For instance, in the "flame" style, the shape of human beings, animals and various objects is slightly distorted by the glow generated by flames. In the years 1955-56, he refined the "bled" style where shapes are altered by stained window glass. Always on the lookout for innovative and new techniques and creations, he also perfected in his workshop the "chopped" and "cross" patterns. The painter also discovered what experts called the "whirlwind" style that symbolised through movements the liveliness of the daily life of men and women. Therefore, we also find in the painter’s work dancing or hunting scenes or even the bustle of crowded markets. Moreover, he also depicts free range animals and objects such as masks, whose diversity of expression recalls the supernatural dimension of ancestral cults. Amisi's colourful universe gives life to sparkling works, full of charm, intensity and movements, giving life to the multiple facets of Congo. In his vibrant work, he succeeds in making tradition universal through his unique and timeless style.