Kendell

Geers

South African-born, Belgian artist Kendell Geers changed his date of birth to May 1968 in order to give birth to himself as a work of art. Describing himself as an 'AniMystikAKtivist', Geers takes a syncretic approach to art that weaves together diverse Afro-European traditions, including animism, alchemy, mysticism, ritual and a sociopolitical activism laced with dark humour, irony and cultural contradiction.

Geers’s work has been shown in numerous international group exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale (2007) and Documenta (2002). Major solo shows include 'Heart of Darkness' at Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town (1993), 'Third World Disorder' at Goodman Gallery Cape Town (2010) and 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' at Goodman Gallery Johannesburg (2012). His exhibition 'Irrespektiv' travelled to Newcastle, Ghent, Salamanca and Lyon between 2007 and 2009. Geers was included on Art Unlimited at Art 42 Basel in 2011. Work by Geers was included on Manifesta 9 in Genk, Limburg, Belgium and a major survey show of his work was exhibited at Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany in 2013. In 2019, Geers held a solo exhibition, 'The Second Coming (Do What Thou Wilt),' at Rua Red in Dublin.