TRANSMISSION ART ARCHIVE
Po B. K. Lomami
Po B. K. Lomami (Pauline Batamu Kasiwa Lomami), is a self-taught artist, art administrator, and public programmer of Congolese descent from Belgium, currently based in Monreal. With a dynamic portfolio that includes socioartistic project coordination, performance, writing, music, zine creation, and activism, Lomami’s work is deeply rooted in anticolonialist, afrofeminist, and anticapitalist engagements. Their artistic practice seamlessly intertwines militant actions with creative forms, notably through performances that critique the art world's paradoxes and highlight the emancipatory potential of art. Their work explores the notion of superhumanization, scrutinizing its physical and psychological imprints.
Lomami’s activist roots were solidified in 2012 when they co-created the CHEFF, an LGBTQI+ student federation. Lomami's professional and activist efforts included contributions to sexual health initiatives, advisory committees for the National Plan to Fight HIV, and European meetings of IGLYO, ILGA, and UNAIDS. In 2015 Lomami merged their activism with art, and presented their first performance, Consultation d’une afro-ratée, at the Warrior Poets collective event within Massimadi Bruxelles, a festival of LGBT films from Africa and its diasporas. Their involvement in projects like BLACK MÉDECINE: a consultation, a participatory performance addressing ordinary racist behavior, showcases a critical approach to combining art and activism.
Through their multifaceted practice, Po B. K. Lomami continues to challenge and transform the artistic landscape, advocating for the voices and experiences of black, queer, disabled individuals. Their work not only critiques existing structures but also envisions new possibilities for collective empowerment and social justice. By dissecting and reclaiming the concept of what they call “superperformance,” Lomami charts new possibilities for Black disabled individuals across diasporas. -Described by Wave Farm Radio Art Fellow 2024, Austin T. Richey