Kinshasa: Academy of Fine Arts Calls for Dialogue Between Indigenous Knowledge and Contemporary Art Restoration Practices

The Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa held its scientific opening on November 4, focusing on art conservation and restoration and the complementarity of community knowledge and contemporary methods. Director General Henri Kalama called for local knowledge to be documented and enriched rather than sidelined, noting that artworks also embody memories and traditions. Mit Makambu, a lecturer and conservation-restoration specialist, stressed the value of reassessing and documenting local repair techniques used before the department was established in 2013.