In dialogue with the forest: paintings from Congo

To make the traditional form of clothing, the Mbuti men gather pieces of the inner bark of fig trees and rub them until they become thin and supple. Mbuti women decorate their surfaces with intricate patterns, using twigs and fingers to apply dyes made from vegetable juice and charcoal. Abstract paintings express the forms and movements of the forest, bearing in mind paths, cobwebs, insects, hunting nets and much more. These vibrant patterns also apply to rainforest noises and Mbuti music.

Onexhibition 15 canvases are presented dating from the middle of the 20th century. Excerpts from Mbuti songs and rainforest recordings played in a continuous cycle create an acoustic atmosphere for the paintings.