Describing himself as a ‘true citizen of the world’, Kongo is a regular visitor to Asia, where he spent his early years before living in Africa and settling in Europe. Born in Toulouse in 1969 to a Vietnamese father and French mother, Cyril Phan spent much of his early childhood in Vietnam until the war ended in 1975 and later lived for several years in the Republic of Congo, which inspired his artist name, Cyril Kongo.
An early proponent of the Parisian graffiti art scene who earned a reputation for his pictorial alphabets reconciling painting and writing, the FrenchVietnamese artist spent decades painting in the streets. More recently, though, his art has decorated everything from walls and canvases to shop windows, jewellery, kitchenware, clothing, luggage and bags, as well as a champagne bottle, humidor, car and even an airplane.Art Republic
Kongo’s ability to appropriate an everyday object and transform it into a work of art has made him a favourite of the luxury world and a collaborator with French brands like Chanel, Hermès, Richard Mille, Daum and La Cornue, showcasing traditional European savoir-faire.
Now, his focus has shifted to his Asian heritage as he sets up an atelier-showroom in Singapore and a boutique gallery in Hanoi to highlight traditional Southeast Asian crafts.
How did you spend the confinement period in France earlier this year?
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Denne historien er fra Issue 59-utgaven av WOW Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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