Cinthia Sifa Mulanga

African Arty Gallery, Casablanca

Acquired from the above by the present owner

Cinthia Sifa Mulanga, initially trained as a printmaker, shifted her focus to painting and collage, which now define her practice. Her art challenges the representation of Black women by exploring their relationship with space. In her work, space operates on multiple levels: as a physical setting and as a symbolic extension of the individual. The space becomes a character in itself, reflecting different aspects of the human soul. Through these layered spaces, Mulanga captures the nuances and complexities of Black female identity in today's world. “My work explores beauty constructs through my lived experience as an African woman and those around me. I create moments within domestic spaces by using different mediums like acrylic with oil paint, charcoal, ink, collage from personal photographs and magazines. Female silhouettes represent the "perfect women " perceived by society through social media. The moments I create in domestic spaces are dialogues between perceived beauty standards, and stereotypes which function to both challenge and embrace African women. The Barbie doll, a primary inspiration in my work, is used with other feminine objects or symbols with associations to African women, representing thoughts, misconceptions, perceptions and emotions. These spaces allow me to create conversations and interrogate notions of beauty,” says Mulanga.