Subjective mapping of Lubumbashi
October 2024 – October 2026
Initiated by Atelier Picha , we have begun creating the Subjective Atlas of Lubumbashi as part of the Biennale de Lubumbashi 2024 (DRC). The completed atlas is set to launch during the next Biennale in 2026. The team of Picha, in particular Sammy Balochi, Jean-Sylvian Tshilumba Mukendi and Filip De Boeck, have invited the growing artistic community to map their lived urban perspectives. Through this collaboration, we explore the connections between contemporary life in the postcolonial city and the industrial, economic, ecological, social, and cultural forces that have historically shaped it and continue influencing Lubumbashi’s urban landscape and daily life today.
Workshop, Atelier Picha, October 2024. Participants developing alternative maps and flags of Lubumbashi. (Photography: Annelys de Vet)
Drawing inspiration from the theme of the Picha Biennale, the concept of “toxicity” serves as a lens to critically examine how individuals and their environments—natural, social, and cultural—are shaped by historical forces. As philosopher Gramsci noted, we are the products of countless historical “traces” that influence us, even if we lack a clear inventory of them. By focusing on toxicity, the project opens a space for artistic reflection, encouraging participants to explore history’s visible and invisible imprints on the present. Through this exploration, we hope to understand better not only where we come from but also the potential futures we can imagine from this point forward.
Through workshops focused on subjective mapping, residents of Lubumbashi contribute their perspectives to the city’s cartography, addressing urban challenges through their lived experiences. Following the design methodology of Subjective Editions, these personal maps are compiled into an atlas that brings together multiple viewpoints. By focusing on a specific aspect of their experiences—whether social, cultural, or environmental—locals are invited to express what truly resonates with them, offering a deeper understanding of how these elements can be mapped and symbolized in a way that reflects their lived realities.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the workshops in Lubumbashi, where designer Annelys de Vet explains how this process unfolds, in a video by SIRIMUKA Mobile Journalisme
Presentation Subjective Editions, Biennale de Lubumbashi, Atelier Picha, October-November 2024.
In close collaboration with Lubumbashi's creative community, we are further developing the contributions, amplifying voices, and shaping a rich, multilayered visual perspective on the postcolonial city—navigating local and international tensions while weaving together historical and contemporary (conflicting) narratives.
Acknowledgements
The Subjective atlas of Lubumbashi is supported by Kunstendecreet Vlaanderen
