This year’s Kenya
Art Fair at Sarit Centre was a relatively Spartan affair. It felt like there were
fewer booths than in years past. In large part this was due to the inflated
costs of booking a display booth this year. According to some participants, the
fees shot up nearly three times the price of the year before. That cost alone
scared away many artists who had hoped to take part in the art fair this year.
The price hike was
attributed to Sarit Centre’s overhead issues. But the fact that there were
fewer artist talks and panels this year was surprising given the thriving
nature of Nairobi’s local art scene. One imagines there could have been many
more than four artists to speak on timely topics. But three sessions of art
talks is all we got this year. This is in contrast to years past when during
the four-day festival, there could have been at least three sessions every day
(apart from opening nght). And occasionally three in a morning and two or three
in the afternoon.
No doubt, audiences
(which largely consisted of up-and-coming younger artists) appreciated hearing
from Mukuru-based artist Shabu Mwangi on Friday. For in addition to his having
an illustrious career as a painter, he is also the founder the Wajukii Art
Project which has mentored many young Kenyan artists from the so-called ‘informal
settlements’.
The ‘Q and A’
session on Saturday between the Kenyatta University lecturer and practicing
painter Anne Mwiti, Kuona-based artist and co-founder of Brush tu Art David
Thuku and Dan Handa, one of the Fair organizers, was also well received.
And on Sunday, young
artists were especially keen to hear from Circle Art Gallery co-founder and
curator Danda Jacoljmek who offered practical tips and insights into moving
forward in the local art industry.
But in years past,
the weekend fair usually had at least one or more panel discussions that served
to stimulate lively discussions. There were no such panels this year.
However, among
themselves artists, who came to the Fair either to display their works or to
check out what was on show, had lively discussions. This must have been one of
the best things about the Art Fair, that younger artists got a chance to meet
and chat with some of the older, more seasoned artists who had decided it was
worth investing far more than they had budgeted for to be in the 2017 Art Fair.
For instance, this
year three giant sculptures by Joseph Bertiers Mbatia took centre stage at the
fair. So when he finally arrived on Sunday afternoon he had a slew of visitors
to his booth and to his larger-than-life sculptures wanting to discuss his
marvelous artworks.
Another well-seasoned
artist who booked a booth of his own and attracted the attention of many young
Kenyans was the painter and jewelry artist Njee Muturi. A man who must be the
first Kenyan to create exquisite bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings out
of silver spoons and forks, Njee makes jewelry that are truly works of art.
There were
approximately ten solo exhibitions at the fair this year. They included
artworks by Michael Soi, Patrick Kinuthia, John Ndungu, Pascal Chuma Elaine
Kehew, Eddy Ochieng, Patrick Ng’ang’a and Melusine Towler.
But what was equally
if not even more exciting about this year’s Fair was seeing so many new faces
and even a number of new groups showcasing their art for the first time.
The one I frankly
was most excited about was Ziwa Zambarau, a quartet of young Kenyan women
artists who have formed one of the first women visual artists’ collectives
(HAWA spearheaded by Lydia Galava was the first). The group includes Virginia Wakianda,
Moira Bush Kimani, Naitiemu Nyantom and Evilidah Wasai.
There were at least twelve
booths devoted to group displays. Among the groups were Dust Depo, Brush tu Art,
Bobea Art Centre, The GoDown, Little Art Gallery, The Mix from Kakuma Refugee
Camp, Cross Stitch, BIEA, Kenyatta University, Silver, Kimani and Endo, Njogu
and Sonko, and of course, Kuona Trust who launched the first Kenya Art Fair and
organized it ever since.
One of the most
popular venues at the fair, apart from the Wasanii Exhibition, was Caricatures,
the booth where artists Paul Njihia, Nadia Wamunyu and James Njoroge created
affordable and fun portraits of visitors right on the spot.
Finally, the art fair catalogue
was especially well done this year with the cover painting by Hussein Halfawi
and the design by Jess Atieno.
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