Kadia Doumbouya
Currents is one of the most important development platforms for visual arts in the Euregion. The group exhibition is curated by a team of young and upcoming curators, and shows work by recently graduated artists from academies in the southern Netherlands, Belgium and North Rhine-Westphalia. The event is embedded in a broader mentoring program with a central focus on training, networking and professionalisation. Four of the selected artists are invited to develop their work during a Jester residency.
Currents 11 takes place from 21 September to 3 November 2024 at Marres, House for Contemporary Culture in Maastricht.
Kadia Doumbouya’s art is a profound exploration of identity, culture, and immigration. Her journey as an artist is deeply intertwined with her personal history, which spans continents and cultures. Born in the Netherlands, spending her youth in Guinea, and later relocating to Belgium at the age of twelve, Doumbouya’s work reflects a perpetual search for an identity she once thought lost. Her quest for self-understanding and acceptance is one of the driving forces of her practice, resulting in captivating works of art.
A pivotal moment in Doumbouya’s life was her move to Belgium. The transition from one culture to another was jarring, leading to an intense effort to blend in, to avoid standing out in any way. However, her physical appearance - a tall, black girl - made it impossible to completely assimilate. Conversely, upon returning to Guinea, she sometimes felt alienated, struggling to understand new expressions and cultural nuances that had evolved during her absence.
This dichotomy between her desire to fit in and the impossibility of doing so led to a profound sense of not belonging. As she matured, Doumbouya’s need to assert her presence and accept her multifaceted identity grew stronger. Her art became a medium through which she could navigate these complex feelings. Through creating, she sought clarity, aiming not necessarily to provide definitive answers but by posing new, meaningful questions.
In her work, Doumbouya embraces the fusion of her diverse cultural realities, channeling this synthesis into her art. Her representations of black, naked bodies - bodies that mirror her own - are powerful, imposing, and deeply evocative. These figures are not just physical forms but vessels of memory, trauma, and resilience. Through them, Kadia seeks to make the invisible visible, to show what lies beyond appearances, to reclaim her body, and to express the complex layers of her identity.
In conclusion, Kadia Doumbouya’s art is a powerful exploration of identity, culture, and resilience. Her work transcends personal narrative, addressing universal themes through the lens of her unique experiences. Doumbouya creates art that is not only deeply personal but also profoundly relevant to broader conversations about identity and belonging in a globalized world.
