Kriss Munsya
Born in 1986 in Kinshasa, Congo. Lives in Vancouver, Canada
Genetic Bomb, 2023
“GENETIC BOMB” is a story that stems from a never-ending question about the past confronting the future. When part of a marginalized group, one tends to imagine better outcomes for their community. The story of “GENETIC BOMB,” instead of focusing on the future, interrogates the roots of any potential future. Its premise is that every time anyone positively impacts the world around them, it changes their nature on a genetic level. This implies that the more people fight for change, the more they create generations capable of making their dreams of freedom a reality because it becomes embedded in their DNA. Conversely, when someone defends the status quo, their DNA remains unchanged. This sets the stage for an eventual social confrontation between the two groups, which will dictate the future of our species.
The artist’s previous work discussed reinventing a boy’s future from the Congolese diaspora in Belgium. For “GENETIC BOMB,” they decided to travel to Congo for the second time and stay there for five months. This journey was a powerful way for the artist to make peace with themselves, their father, and their culture.
Photo Museum Ireland
