Everard Read Gallery | Pasada by Thonton Kabeya

Everard Read Gallery presents ‘Pasada’ by Thonton Kabeya.

‘Pasada’, the Spanish word for ‘to pass or turn’, reflects the core movement in rumba dancing where the leader opens space for the follower. This dance evolved from the ancient ‘Nkumba’ of the central African Kong kingdom, carried it across the Atlantic by enslaved people. Influencing jazz, it transformed into the ‘rumba’ known today.

Mid-20th century, records and radio reintroduced the music and dance to Africa, sparking diverse variations across Central and Southern regions. Congolese rumba’s recent inscription on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list underscores its significance: ‘It is considered an essential and representative part of the identity of Congolese people and its diaspora, conveying social and cultural values, promoting intergenerational and social cohesion and solidarity.’ (UNSECO, 2021)

Beyond dance, rumba culture encompasses fashion, music, and drama - microcosm of society meticulously depicted by Kabeya. His work captures the raw energy of city life, bustling streets, and urban realities.

‘Pasada’, Kabeya's first solo exhibition at Everard Read Gallery, showcases three series:

‘Pasada’ series: Depicting rumba dancers in moments of connection.

Moziki Street series: Capturing the social dynamics around the rumba club.

Tablet series: Featuring abstract works fracturing figurative rumba representations.

Kabeya constantly experiments with paint and canvas, exploring texture, depth, and colour balance. He layers, cuts, and sculpts canvases before painting.

The Tablet series:

Kabeya's mastery of colour and texture is evident. The abstract compositions, some with figuration hints, reflecting societal fractures. Gold seems linking blocks, reminiscent of ‘kintsugi’, where broken pottery becomes more beautiful through repair. This series explores the beauty of fragmentation, reconfiguration, and balance, inviting reflection and a ‘Pasada’ between figuration and abstraction.