Shadows of the Past

‘Shadows of the Past’, at the MEWO Kunsthalle in Memmingen, is the first part of the ongoing performance and exhibition project ‘Shadows of the Free State’, which was developed by Beverley Onyangunga, Filip Anić and Kennedy Muntanga for venues in Germany, the United Kingdom and Croatia.

The thematic starting point is the colonial history of the Congo Free State – a formally independent state in Central Africa from 1885 to 1908, which was, however, privately owned and under the absolute control of the then King of Belgium, Leopold II. The crimes committed during this period sparked international protests at an early stage, yet the colonial exploitation of people and natural resources continues to this day.

The shadows of this past haunt us to this very day. Perhaps engaging with this history can help us to better understand our own era and to make sense of patterns of behaviour. Yet the past is not revealed solely through historiography; to some extent, experiences also endure. Thus, the traumas of both victims and perpetrators are passed down and influence the perceptions and actions of subsequent generations.

‘Shadows of the Free State’ attempts to approach this subject through art. Manipulated photographs by Beverley Onyangunga and drawings by Filip Anić provide the framework. Onyangunga supplements historical black-and-white photographs with red-coloured limbs, thereby highlighting the brutality of the regime of that time, which punished even the slightest offence with amputation. Anić draws what happens during the performance, depicting how the dancers apply paint to the canvases and thus leave their mark.

At the heart of the project, however, is the performance – presented live on the opening night and documented in the exhibition (consisting of a film and the painted canvases) – which is choreographed by Kennedy Muntanga.

Beverley Onyangunga (born 1995 in London, UK) studied Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts in London. Her multidisciplinary work is shaped by her Congolese heritage and her British upbringing. She lives and works in London.

Filip Anić (born 2001 in Osijek, HR) is currently studying for a Master’s degree at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek. He lives and works in Osijek.

Kennedy Junior Muntanga (born in 1998 in Ndola, Zambia) moved to Leeds (UK) as a child, where he began his dance training at an early age. In 2019, he graduated from the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London and has since worked as a dancer and choreographer for numerous internationally renowned companies.

Last edited on 17.08.2026