George Lilanga di Nyama

The place of birth of the painter and sculptor is unclear. In his official CV, it says: born in 1934, Kikwetu, Masari District, Mtwarea Region, Tanzania. Daniel Augusta, the owner of the lilanga.org webiste concludes: born in Nandimba situated 10 km from Mueda, Mozambique

died in 2005, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Lilanga who was influenced from Tinga Tinga school of painters (square paintings) is probably the bestknown artist of Tanzania and worldwide represented in museums and collection like Jean Pigozzi and Saatchi

Artist Profil | Exhibitions | Publications | Museums - Collection | Kunstwerk des Monats

Artist Profil

Georges Lilanga has established a reputation as one of East Africa’s most influential artists. Born close to Tanzania’s border with Mozambique, he was first trained in the craft of Makombe carving before moving to Dar es Salaam in 1970. There, he made the acquaintance of the Tingatinga school of painters, whose colourful square paintings inspired him to work in the same style. He soon, however, expanded his repertoire to include figures and scenes from African mythology and everyday life. His big breakthrough came in 1977 at the Africa exhibition in Washington, D. C. In New York, he found admirers among the local graffiti scene, including Keith Haring. What distinguishes Lilanga’s paintings and figures is his choice of subject matter and the diversity of his compositions. Like no other artist, he is able to depict the turbulent aspects of the African way of life in a small space.

Solo Exhibitions (Selection)

2007 - „George Lilanga – D. B. K. Msagula. Moderne Kunst aus Afrika“, Galerie Exler, Frankfurt/M., Deutschland

2004 - "Tingatinga and Lilanga" - Kouchi Prefecture Art Museum, Kouchi, Japan

2003 - "Lilanga d'ici et d'ailleurs" - Centre Culturel François Mitterrand, Périgueux, Frankreich

- "George Lilanga" - Christa's Fine Tribal Art Gallery, Kopenhagen, Dänemark

2002 - "Georges Lilanga" MAMCO, Genf, Schweiz

1999 - "Georges Lilanga : Storie Africane" - Franco Cancelliere Arte Contemporanea, Messina, Italien
- Fabbrica Eos, Mailand, Italien

1995 - "Lilanga's Artist in Residence and Workshop" - Hiroshima City Modern Art Museum, Hiroshima, Japan

1994 - "Lilanga's Cosmos" - Okariya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

 

Group Exhibitions (Selection)

2011 - "Afrikas Moderne im Spiegel der Generationen", Haus der Völker, Schwaz, Österreich, 9. 10. 2011 - 15. 1. 2012

- "Grenzenlos - Bilder, Skulpturen, Installationen", Kunstverein Aalen im Alten Rathaus, Aalen, Deutschland, 19. 6. - 23. 7. 2011

2010 - „Why Africa?: Contemporary African Art. La Colezzione Pigozzi“, Gingotto – Giomi und Marella Aquellis picture gallery, Turin, 2010

- „African Art Now: Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection“, CAACArt, Genf, Schweiz

2009 - „Africa? Una nova storia“, Complesso del Vittoriano, Rom. 8. 11. 2009 – 16. 1. 1010

- „Die Hand ist das Werkzeug der Seele“, Stadtgalerie Ahlen, Königstraße 7, Deutschland. 21.5. - 28. 6. 2009

2008 - ”Africa Select III”, ARTCO Gallery, Herzogenrath, Deutschland. 31. 8. - 30. 9. 2008
- ”Africa Remix”, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, Südafrika

2006 - „Außereuropäische Kunst“, Galerie Exler, Frankfurt/M., Deutschland
- "Africa Remix" - Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan

- „100 % Africa. Works from the Pigozzi Collection“, Kurator: André Magnin, Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spanien

2005 - "Africa Remix" - Hayward Gallery, London, England

- "Arts of Africa " - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, Frankreich

- "African Art Now : Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection", Museum of Fine Art Houston, Houston, USA

- "Africa Remix" - Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, Frankreich

2004 - „Andere Moderne Afrikas. Kunst aus den Sammlungen des Linden-Museums Stuttgart. Zum Gedächtnis an Barbara Frank(1936-2004)“, Linden-Museum Stuttgart
- "Africa Remix. Zeitgenössische Kunst eines Kontinents" u. a. mit Berry Bickle, Museum Kunst Palast, Düsseldorf, Deutschland

2003 - "Latitudes " - Hôtel de Ville, Paris, Frankreich

2002 - "Mapico Dance" - MAMCO, Geneva, Switzerland -"Georges Lilanga" Galleria Spazia, Bologna, Italien

2000 - „Shanghai Biennale 2000“, Shanghai, China

- "Il ritorno dei Maghi" - Palazzo de Sette, Orvieto, Italien

- „Casino di Malindi, Kenya - Deposito 6“, Verona, Italien

1999 - ”African Contemporary Art" - Lenz Gallery of Art, Pregassona, Italien - La Persia  - Palazzo Carlotti, Verona, Italien

1998 - Goethe Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tansania
- „Dak’Art – Dakar 3nd Biennal“, Dakar, Senegal

1997 - Gallery Watatu, Nairobi, Kenia

1996 - “Dak'Art - Dakar 2nd Biennal“, Dakar, Senegal
- Pyramid Hotel, Fürth, Deutschland
- „Aufbruch. Moderne afrikanische Kunst.“ Die Sammlung Kleine-Gunk, Fürth, Deutschland

1995 - "Keith Haring and Georges Lilanga. Animals and Spirits of Africa“, Pantheon Tama Gallery, Tokyo und Mimoca Gallery, Marugane, Japan

- "Africus - Johannesburg 1st International Biennale" u. a. mit Richard Jack, Luis Meque, Joseph Muzondo und Sane Wadu, Johannesburg, Südafrika

1993 - "La Grande Vérité, Les Astres Africains" - Nantes Fine Art Museum, Nantes, Frankreich

1992 - "Out of Africa" - Saatchi & Saatchi Gallery, London, England

- "Tingatinga Art" - Art Tower Mito, Tokyo, Japan

1991 - „Jean Pigozzi contemporary African art collection at the Saatchi Collection“, Saatchi collection, London, England. Ausstellung u. a. mit Bouabré, Hazoumé, Kingelez, Cyprien Tokoudagba

1989 - "Arts & Crafts Center", Dar es Salaam, Tansania

1988 - Wanderausstellung: London - Glasgow, England

1986 - "Arts & Crafts Center", Dar es Salaam, Tansania

1985 - Wanderausstellung: Schweden, Dänemark, Norwegen, Finnland

1984 - "Internationale Sommer Akademie", Salzburg, Österreich

- "Arts & Crafts Center", Dar es Salaam, Tansania

1983 - National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

1981 - "Internationale Sommer Akademie", Salzburg, Österreich

1979 - National Museum, Dar es Salaam, Tansania

1978 - Marykoll Ossining Centre, New York, USA - IMF Hall, World Bank, Washington, USA

1977 - Goethe Institute - Dar es Salaam, Tansania

1976 - National Gallery of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana

1974 - National Museum, Dar es Salaam, Tansania

Publications (Selection)

- „Why Africa?: Contemporary African Art. La Colezzione Pigozzi“, Electa, Turin, 2010

- Magnin, André; Green, Alison de Lima; Wardlaw, Alvia J.; McEvilley, Thomas, „African Art Now: Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection“, Merrell Publishers, London, 2010

- Magnin, André (Hg.), „100 % Africa. Works from the Pigozzi Collection“, Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spanien

- Skira, Sarenco und Enrico Marcelloni von, „George Lilanga: Africa Collection“, FB, 5. 9. 2006. 14,46 Euro

- Domino, Christophe: Magnin, André, „L’art africain contemporain“, Éditions Scala, Paris 2005. 127 S., Farbabbildungen

- Hamburg Mawingu Collection, George Lilanga. Ranci ya Maisha. Farben des Lebens. Colours of Life, Hamburg 2005. 185 S., 89,95 Euro

- Njami, Simon (Hg.), „Africa Remix“, Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit 2004. Auflagen in französisch, englisch, japanisch

- Forkl, Hermann, „Andere Moderne Afrikas. Kunst aus den Sammlungen des Linden-Museums Stuttgart. Zum Gedächtnis an Barbara Frank (1936-2004)“, Linden-Museum Stuttgart 2004. 199 S., Farbabbildungen, S. 189-199

- André Magnin, Jacques Soulillou, Contemporary Art of Africa, Harry N. Abrams, New York 1996

- „Aufbruch. Moderne afrikanische Kunst. Die Sammlung Kleine-Gunk“, Werbegesellschaft Fürth, Fürth 1996

 

Videos:

- Lilanga nach Picasso

- A visit with George Lilanga

- Die Beerdigung von George Lilanga (Hamburg Mawingu Collection)

  Museums - Collection

- Bernd Kleine-Gunk, Fürth

- Hamburg Mawingu Collection: George Lilanga Collection

- Kunst Transit Berlin

- Jean Pigozzi Collection

- Sarenco und Enrico Marcelloni von Skira Collection

- Saatchi Collection