In DON’T BLINK, MAKANO confronts the harrowing reality of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—a nation ravaged by decades of conflict, exploitation, and immeasurable loss. This powerful solo exhibition serves as a visceral outcry against the silence that has shrouded the deaths of over 5.5 million innocent people in eastern DRC since 1996—a genocide carried out under the shadow of global indifference. Among the countless lives lost were MAKANO’s own parents, victims of the relentless violence stemming from the prolonged conflict between the DRC and Rwanda.
The exhibition’s central motif—a striking red backdrop—serves as a powerful symbol of bloodshed, a haunting reminder of the lives lost and the enduring pain that grips a nation. Each artwork stands as a testament to the resilience of the Congolese people: a call to remember, a demand for justice, and a refusal to let silence prevail. MAKANO’s work insists that the world must not blink, must not look away, and must not forget.
Through bold compositions, raw emotion, and unflinching honesty, DON’T BLINK compels viewers to confront the uncomfortable truths of history. It asks us to acknowledge the humanity of those whose voices have been silenced and to examine our own complicity in the face of ongoing suffering.
This exhibition is not merely a memorial—it is a provocation. It challenges us to see, to feel, and to respond. Because to blink is to turn away, and to turn away is to betray.
DON’T BLINK is a tribute, a protest, and a plea—a searing reminder that the blood of the innocent demands our attention, our empathy, and our action.
MAKANO’s work is a beacon of defiance, a call for accountability, and a testament to the enduring spirit of a people who refuse to be erased.
Don’t blink.