DECEMBER JAM; PACKED WITH ART SHOWS

KENYAN ARTISTS OUT IN FULL FORCE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

By Margaretta wa Gacheru (margaretta.gacheru@gmail.com)

Tis the season for amazing group exhibitions and affordable art shows as well as for several solo exhibitions. Among the soloists, there’s Nuru Bahati’s digital art works entitled ‘People Change’ at the Dust Depo Studio through Dec. 18th, Ugandan artist Enock Mukiibi at Banana Hill Gallery through the New Year, Gor Soudan’s ‘Imprints’ paintings at Red Hill Gallery through January 25th,

Gor Soudan at Red Hill Gallery

Korean ceramist Kim Sung-Jin at Nairobi National Museum through January 18^th, watercolors by Chris Campbell Clause at the Talisman restaurant through December 18^th Elaine Kehew’s ‘Chasing Waterfalls’ at the Lord Erroll restaurant,

Elaine Kehew's Dance of the Red Ibis

and Patrick Kinuthia’s colorful paintings entitled ‘Ni ya Leo’ through January 25th at The Art Space.

Patrick Kinuthia at The Art Space

For some reason, only a fraction of The Art Space was filled with Patrick’s paintings, so it was no surprise to see the remainder of his work at Dusit D2’s once-a-month showcase last Saturday in The Den, where he shared that space with several outstanding East African painters, such as Patrick Mukabi, Adrian Nduma, Leonard Kateete

Leonard Kateete's glass mosaic of Mzee Jomo (below)

Taskin Butt and Sam Madoka, a former TV personality and advertising executive who’s now revealed himself to be a talented visual artist.

But Dusit is just one of several group shows going on prior to the Christmas, Hannekah and New Year’s holiday season. There’s an exceptional one at One Off Gallery featuring the third edition of ‘Recent [and wonderful] Works’ by Peter Ngugi (whose 30 feet tall scrap metal and spoon Tree was just installed at The Hub in Karen),

Peter Ngugi's metal tree at The Hub in Karen

Timothy Brooke,

Timothy Brooke at One Off

Richard Kimathi,

Richard Kimathi with his 2 young boys at One Off Gallery

Richard Kimathi's Never Kissed a Girl at One Off Gallery

Peterson Kamwathi, Beatrice Wanjiku (below)

Peter Elungat, James Mbuthia (below,

Ehoodi Kichapi, Florence Wangui (below),

Harrison Mburu (his Chameleon, above),
Jackson Wanjau (Labourer, below)

and Fitsum Berhe.

Fitsum's Contemporary Chic

There’s also an ‘Affordable Art’ Exhibition at the Polka Dot Gallery in Karen where Lara Ray is catering specially for holiday shoppers with lovely paintings and prints by local artists as well as holiday cards which may also serve as miniature works of art. Among the artists exhibiting at Polka Dot are several Ugandan artists including Ronnie Ogwang, Anwar Sadat and Tindi, April Zhu and Elaine Kehew, Patti Endo, Caroline Mbirua and Sophie Walbeoffe among others.

Circle Art Gallery also has an outstanding group exhibition entitled ‘The Third Dimension’ which embraces everything 3D including sculptures, installations, functional art and even books. The artists whose amazing works are on display include Joseph ‘Bertiers’ Mbatia, Cyrus Kabiru, Peter Walala, Dennis Muraguri, Meshack Oiro, Gor Soudan, Kioko Mwitiki, Mwini Mutuku, Onyis Martin and Anthony Wanjau. It’s an exceptional collection of assorted 3D works that shouldn’t be missed by anyone keen to discover the dynamism and diversity of Kenyan contemporary art.

Meanwhile, the British Institute of East Africa has of late paid greater attention to contemporary African art. Up until yesterday, it had an important collection of 100 sculptures by 20 Zimbabwean artists entitled ‘Faces of Zimbabwe’. The show was curated by Carola Rasmussen, and despite the fact that the show technically closed December 8, it’s possible that one might still be able to see a bit of it if you get to BIEA today.

Otherwise, you can get yourself to Village Market where you’ll find lots of the latest paintings and sculptures by nearly all the resident artists based at Kuona Trust. The fate of the Trust is still in limbo, so as many friends of Kuona who’d feel good about showing their support for the artists and faith in Kuona’s future would do well to visit Village Market’s exhibition hall through this weekend

Meanwhile, at Kuona’s own gallery, ‘Wrong Number’s an exhibition of works by resident artists Lemek Tompoika and Paul Njihia. Both artists use their art to challenge the increasing power that numbering, ranking and digitalizing of people that Western culture has brought to Kenya, especially in education. Lemek’s sentiments are expressed through the combination of painting and collage while Njihia’s paintings include ensemblies of school children whose anonymity is reinforced with identical school uniforms which also cloaks their individuality. Both artists also have works on display in the Village Market show which opened last Wednesday and runs through this weekend.

Finally, refugee artists were visible at two separate venues this past weekend, first at the Nairobi National Museum where UNHCR had sponsored artists from both Kakuma and Dadab Camps through the weekend and then, simultaneously, during the Kenya Fashion Market, we found one amazing Rwandese artist named Bahimba Thaddee Macumi at the Ngong Racecourse displaying his Mahogany chairs, tables and 3D relief ‘paintings’ all carved in wood but given a life of their own by this refugee artist who learned to carve after he arrived in Kenya some years ago.