Andersen’s is pleased to announce the opening of Painted States, a solo exhibition of works by Malawi-born artist Samson Kambalu. This marks the artist’s first solo show in Denmark, and coincides with the inauguration of the gallery’s new premises on Rentemestervej 49, 2400 in Copenhagen NV.

Balancing philosophy and play, Kambalu is known for performance and video installations. With inspirations ranging from Nietzsche to the Nyau ritual of the Chew peoples, the artist’s work subverts the canons on Western philosophy, art and cinemas through the lens of his Malawian heritage. Kambalu employs a variety of media, including site-specific installation, video, performance and literature. His aim is to skew our reading of cultural behaviour and customs and to seek out the areas where humanity meets. 

Samson Kambalu (b. 1975, Malawi) studied at the University of Malawi (BA Fine Art and Ethnomusicology, 1995-99); Nottingham Trent University (MA Fine Art, 2002-03) and Chelsea College of Art and Design (PhD, 2011 – 15). Kambalu is an Associate Professor of Fine Art and a lifelong fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford University. His work has been shown internationally, including Dakar Biennale (2014, 2016), the Liverpool Biennial (2004, 2016) and was included in All The World’s Futures, Venice Biennale 2015, curated by Okwui Enwezor. His winning Fourth Plinth proposal Antelope will exhibit on Trafalgar Sqaure from September 2022 to 2024. Kambalu is included in African Artists: from 1882 to now, the first extensive publication of African art to date, published by Phaidon. He lives and works in Oxford, United Kingdom.