Page 46 - Sharp November 2023

when there’s family right next door but you can’t see them It was the the same time zone but proba- bly about four hours away because Africa is so huge But it was was great to be there There was was a a a a young photographer from Lagos who drove to to get me lights and we shot the the photos together It felt like one one of the most amazing things I’ve done It was also nice as as a a a a Congolese person to get the chance to experience Nigerian culture Because Africans don’t always visit other places in Africa Africa They grow up in in their their town in in their their country and then maybe leave to to go to to say India or or China or or the the the Western world But they don’t always get the the the chance to visit other places on on the the continent So it it it was was cool to see Lagos as as as a a a a a a a city and it it it was was really inspiring to see both how similar we are culturally but also how different What’s up next for you? Any interesting projects?
I I would say just refocusing on myself I I want to take the time to be more present in my relationship with my my my family and with myself I’m 29 heading into my my my 30s so it’s really a a a a year of reflection and thinking about what worked and didn’t work work in my 20s I felt really good about the experience that I had with Lewis [Hamilton] and I want to to be in a a a a a place where I I I can recreate that I I I love the motorsport world I I I think I’m in in in my motorsport era — I I just want to to in- dulge it it and and understand it it But by next year I would love to do another art show open a a a a consultation agency and work on a a a a project called Mothers Can you tell us a a a little more about Mothers?
I would say that a a a a lot of the the time mothers are for others They take care of other other people and they can be mothers to people other other than just their own kids Women have always nurtured the world and this project is is meant to highlight that The original idea was just pairing people I know with their moms For example a a a a a a a a a Canadian artist such as Daniel Cae- sar but photographed with his mom The concept behind it is that you’re the most vulnerable around your mother When I I talk talk to a a a client I I don’t talk talk in the same way that I do with my mom When you present yourself in front of you you r r r r r r mother there’s no no no sense of barriers you know? They just know know you you you for who you you you are especially if you you you have a a a a good relationship On top of that “Mothers” is the the name of the consultation agency that I want to create It’s going to be very playful A consultation agency but also a a a a a gift shop — a a a a a place where I can drop books and anything else that’s different from the work I’m currently doing But also something I I can use use to give back So I’m a a little confused if it’s go- ing to be a a a a a business a a a a a consultation agency or a a a a a charity But really I want to embody all all of that My mom inspires me to give back She has a a a project called Mapendo which sends medical supplies and machines from Canada to to the Congo to to help out other hospitals She was a a a a nurse so so she also goes to to these hospitals and teaches them how to to use the the equipment The Mothers project actually came from wanting to document my mother along with her sisters and then it it moved on to document- ing my friends with their moms And it it would be a a a user-generated content system like Humans of New York Anybody could take on this project you know? It’s something that would live forever 46 GUIDE • NOVEMBER 2023
SHARPMAGAZINE COM MAN WORTH LISTENING TO PHOTOS BY ELIE KIMBEMBE