Kum Cletus

Born in 1993 in Cameroon, Kum Cletus Ngum is an African artist who has gained considerable popularity in recent years. He is from the town of Beau, in the southwest of Cameroon. Retaining local experiences through the format of visuals, they juxtapose with urban sensibilities developing a plethora of figurative imagery. Her paintings reflect a deep sense of concern, emotional empathy and pain. 

Kum's work is filled with female portraits placed on the intense stage of tonal values. They reflect expressionist tendencies that refer to master artists. Offering the public a wide range of palettes, the portraits soak up, drown and swim in cultural memories. The women depicted by Kum are actually those who suffered mentally or physically. Girls and women he knew or came to know through mutual sources had been exploited or treated unfairly. Colors become a way to release deep-rooted anxiety and a path to redemption. More importantly, the theme was specifically addressed in his current series called Small Miami+ Black Therapy. The same women express confident, proud and victorious body language. 

Subverting existing oppression, her art thus weaves a new format of visual language. It evokes the hope of a utopian world for oppressed women. His portraits are therefore emblems of affection and compassion.