these power figures called monk garko were created to protect a village communities in 1903 congo. the metal pieces were hammered in to seal agreements between tribe members. nearby a contemporary power figure it's decorated with electronic scrap symbolizing the destructive mining of coal town a mineral used in manufacturing smartphones it's a reference to the new imperialist role of china in congo. unfun and these what's interesting about this juxtaposition is that it updates the historical art and demonstrates that it still has relevance for the present day. vaterland curator michelle yellow obo who far invited contemporary artists from the democratic republic of the congo to take part in the exhibition they created works that responds to the historical objects and photographs from the museum barracks collection. the starting point for the exhibition is the archive of german ethnologist hunts him and he. traveled to the congo in 1938 on an art expedition commissioned in part by the ethnological museums in geneva and basel him a hero purchased hundreds of sculptures masks and othe