EVIDENCE OF
EXPANDING ART SPACES
By
Margaretta wa Gacheru (posted 9 April 2018)
Best
evidence that the Kenyan art scene is expanding exponentially are the new
spaces emerging and quickly getting filled with artworks by both Kenyan and
international artists.
The
incentive coming from the artists is a desire for exposure of their work which
generates interest. The visibility then heightens artists’ profiles and often leads
to sales to the benefit of both the artists and curators as well as to the
collectors.
One clear-cut
example of the expanding arts scene is at One Off Gallery where Carol Lees just
transformed her stables into an elegant and spacious gallery extension to The
Loft where she’s currently exhibiting 12 of her favorite Kenyan artists. They
include Anthony Okello, Beatrice Wanjiku, Ehoodi Kichapi, Florence Wangui,
Harrison Mburu, James Mbuthia, Olivia Pendergast, Peter Ngugi, Peterson
Kamwathi, Richard Kimathi, Timothy Brooke and Xavier Verhoest.
One Off’s
former stable features the works of Canadian artist Lisa Milroy who plays with textiles,
textures, paints and an engaging style of interactive art that offers an
excellent way to inaugurate One Off’s new space.
Another
inventive new art space is at the old Kenya Railways train yard where BSQ, the
trio of amazing graffiti artists, has just taken over an old train car and
transformed it into a studio that’s already become an interactive site where
other graffiti artists like Swift Elegwa were making their artistic mark on the
car on the studio’s open day last weekend.
BSQ was
previously based at the Railways, with Patrick Mukabi at Dust Depo Studio. But
the troika (Bebetu, KayMist and Msale) are so highly energized they needed a
space of their own.
Then in a
private home in Karen, Beta-Art founder Gloria Barasa organized a Pop-up
exhibition featuring nearly a dozen Kenyan artists, including Patrick Mukabi,
Elias Mong’ora, Waweru Gichuhi and Emmaus Kimani. It was arranged on short
notice and just for one day last weekend, but Gloria plans to hold more pop-up shows
in future.
Lord Errol’s
Restaurant is also intent, thanks to Lisa Christoffersen, on holding regular
exhibitions at the Runda eatery. Currently, Lisa’s curated an exhibition of artworks
by Drishti Chawla which will run until month’s end.
Norfolk
Hotel’s new management is also keen to mount art exhibitions comparable to the
one they held last month of artworks by Coster Ojwang, curated by William
Ngwiga’s Little Art Gallery.
Meanwhile,
Kuona Artists Alliance is now hosting an open house once a month on Saturdays
when most of the artists will be on hand to show their works. There will be
food, music and drinks to celebrate the artists’ triumph over months of
tribulations.
Village
Market currently has a marvelous exhibition of “African Artistic Tales’ created
by Six Ugandan artists, including Akiiki, Anwar, Kasagga, Lukwago, Tindi and
Sebandeke. Offering a rainbow array of colorful works that are diverse in
style, subject matter and sensibility, each of the six brought paintings from
Kampala to share locally.
At the
British Institute of East Africa, the latest series of ingenious junk art by
Evans Ngure entitled ‘Irreplaceable’ is on display through May 4th.
Evans has created an array of endangered species, from butterflies and owls to
peacocks and fish using everything from spare parts from cars, computers and
TVs to buttons, keys, imported leather and assorted gadgetry.
The other
solo show that’s running now is Tabitha wa Thuku’s at the Banana Hill Art
Gallery.
The one visiting
artist who’s got so much artwork to show that Goethe Institute had to book it
into both the GoDown Art Gallery and Circle Art Gallery is Wolfgang Tillmans.
The London-based
German photographer is well-known all over Europe, but he’s currently on a
nine-city African tour. The Circle Art segment of his ‘Fragile’ exhibition
opened last Thursday week with a talk by the artist, anchored by Kenyan photographer
James Muriuki. The GoDown opening was this past Wednesday followed by two more
artist’s talks yesterday.
Finally, one
reason Tillmans couldn’t exhibit at the Goethe is because it was booked in
advance by Nyambura Waruinge for her ‘Indulgence’ exhibition. Inspired by a
previous show held in Uganda entitled ‘Eroticism and Intimacy’, ‘Indulgence’
also artistically explores issues of sexuality, gender and desire, featuring
multimedia works by Neo Musingi, James Muriuki, Yaye Kassamali, Stacey Gillian
Abe and Henry Mzili Mujunga.
This weekend,
Gravitart presents art by eleven Kenyans entitled ‘Conflicting the Narrative’
at Kobo Trust on Friday. On Saturday, Adrian Nduma’s latest works will feature
at Polka dot Gallery and The Attic will open a show by Michael Musyoka and Lincoln Mwangi from 21st April.
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