- Title: Congolese artist paints politicians' portraits in plastic
- Date: 5th January 2023
- Summary: BUKAVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CONGOLESE ARTIST CIKURU CIRIMWAMI COLLECTING PLASTIC BOTTLES WITH ASSISTANT OUTSIDE RUZIZI 2 HYDROELECTRIC PLANT WITH AN ASSISTANT (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) CONGOLESE ARTIST, CIKURU CIRIMWAMI, SAYING: "I chose the waste here at the Ruzizi power plant, because this plant supplies the whole Kivu with electricity. The waste that arrives here causes problems with electrical power supplies, which is why I made the decision to recover this waste to fight this problem by using it as an artist." MORE OF CONGOLESE ARTIST CIKURU CIRIMWAMI COLLECTING PLASTIC BOTTLES WITH ASSISTANT OUTSIDE RUZIZI 2 HYDROELECTRIC PLANT WITH AN ASSISTANT (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) CONGOLESE ARTIST, CIKURU CIRIMWAMI, SAYING: "Today I just noticed that in our city of Bukavu, there is a lot of waste that people do not know how to manage. As far as I am concerned, I made the decision to make my contribution in our province of South Kivu, by taking this plastic waste to make paintings as drawings, portraits. This is how I can help my province of South Kivu." VARIOUS OF CIRIMWAMI MELTING PLASTIC BOTTLES VARIOUS OF CIRIMWAMI TAKING MELTED PLASTIC AND APPLYING IT TO HIS ARTWORK ARTWORK OF CONGOLESE LEADER LEANING AGAINST A WALL MORE OF CIRIMWAMI APPLYING MELTED PLASTIC TO HIS ARTWORK PORTRAIT OF CONGOLESE PRESIDENT, FELIX TSHISEKEDI, BY CIRIMWAMI VARIOUS OF CIRIMWAMI CLEANING THE FRAMED PORTRAITS HE PAINTED OF DIFFERENT CONGOLESE LEADERS (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) CONGOLESE ARTIST, CIKURU CIRIMWAMI, SAYING: "There were many congresses in DR Congo, several meetings, several problems, but in these meetings there was no mention of problems related to the destruction of the environment. No measures have been taken to protect nature. That is why, as an artists from the Democratic Republic of Congo, I can send a message along these lines. The past presidents, the fighters such as Kasavubu, Lumumba, Mobutu Laurent Désiré Kabila and Joseph Kabila even Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, have all done nothing. They are responsible for the destruction of the environment. They should make provision for the protection of the environment." VARIOUS OF ART PORTRAITS OF DIFFERENT CONGOLESE LEADERS BY CIRIMWAMI (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) CONGOLESE ARTIST, CIKURU CIRIMWAMI, SAYING: "The big message today, for the authorities; they must tell us how we are going to protect our environment. That's why I told myself that I must continue to use plastic waste such as bags, bottles, used basins that I process and make drawings." ART EXHITION PRESENTER SPEAKING ON STAGE VARIOUS CIRIMWAMI ON STAGE AT ART EXHIBITION PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE LISTENING VARIOUS OF ART PORTRAITS OF DIFFERENT CONGOLESE LEADERS BY CIRIMWAMI
- Embargoed: 19th January 2023 10:07
- Keywords: Art Bukavu DRC Plastic Ruzizi Waste management
- Location: Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
- City: Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Topics: Africa,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001908627122022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Near the banks of Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, artist Patrick Cikuru Cirimwami wades knee-deep through a mountain of plastic bottles, scooping as many as he can carry into a large sack.
There is no public waste collection in the area, and the trash that ends up in Lake Kivu often causes breakdowns in the hydroelectric plant, leading to power cuts.
But Cikuru Cirimwami's goal is bigger than helping clean up. Later he will melt down the plastic to make a thick liquid which he uses to paint portraits of politicians - intended to be a condemnation of what he says is their inaction in protecting the environment.
"There have been many conferences in DR Congo, many meetings ... but we have not taken measures to protect nature. As a Congolese artist, I can send a message," said the 26-year-old.
Last month, the artist's portraits of political figures, from independence leader Patrice Lumumba to current president Felix Tshisekedi, were displayed at a cultural centre in his hometown, Bukavu.
Congo, like other African nations, has insisted on its right to develop its economy by exploiting its vast natural resources. It has come under criticism for putting oil blocks up for auction in the world's second-biggest rainforest.
It has pledged to minimise the potentially devastating impact by using modern drilling methods and tight regulation. It also hosted talks before November's COP 27 climate summit to call on rich nations to honour a pledge to developing nations to ensure fair finance to fight climate change.
(Production: Crispin Kyala, Mukelwa Hlatshwayo) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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