CIRCLE ART'S ANNUAL ART AUCTION EAST AFRICA PREVIEW

                      ART AUCTION PREVIEW JAM-PACKED WITH GEMS

By Margaretta wa Gacheru (posted 30 October 2021)

Offering a generous preview of this year’s Art Auction East Africa, the Circle Art Gallery has filled all their walls, plus some floor space for all the 60 plus paintings and sculptures that will be in the Art Auction.

The actual event will be held November 9^th in the Radisson Blu’s spacious ballroom. But if you just want to see this year’s fabulous selection of top-tier East African art, then be aware Circle still follows the COVID protocols. Otherwise, there are many surprises in this year’s showcase, most notably in the number of artists represented whose works haven’t been seen at the auction before.

With eight African countries represented in the auction, including Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, the few non-East African artists, like Robert Saidi, Charles Sekano, and Twins Seven Seven are exceptions whose presence only enhances the excitement of the show.

What’s equally exciting are the presence of so many Kenyan artists whose works were selected by Circle Art’s busy curator-director Danda Jaroljmek to be in this much-anticipated annual event. It’s no surprise to see works by Peterson Kamwathi, Joseph Bertiers, Fitsum Berhe, and Cyrus Kabiru whose home-made ‘radio’ and ‘blue Mamba’ bicycle sculptures signal more of the C-Stunners’ innovative genius. But then there are Kota Otieno’s  untitled ‘woven’ painting, Kaafiri Kariuki’s meticulous drawing of ‘Orchestra II’, and Joel Oswaggo’s whimsical village scene, painted years before he moved back to the village himself..

That’s just the tip of the iceberg of marvelous works by Kenyan artists like Jackie Karuti, Ehoodi Kichapi, Wanyu Brush, Michael Wafula, Tabitha wa Thuku, Sane Wadu, Gor Soudan, and Mazola wa Mwashighadi whose art is on display amidst that of venerable elders like Edward Njenga, Joni Waite, Kamal Shah, and the late Rosemary Karuga (who passed on earlier this year).

Danda didn’t shy away from bringing works by East African artists who’ve been long gone. Most notably Ugandan artists Geoffrey Mukasa and Eli Kyeyune,  Nigerian artist Twins Seven Seven and Tanzanians E.S. Tingatinga, George Lilanga, Robino Ntila, and Romano Lutwama as well as lesser-known painters like Doreen Mandawa, John Baptist de Silva, and Fabian Mpagi.

The founder and director of both the Art Auction East Africa and Circle Art has also been fearless about including a number of newcomers to the auction. They include young Ugandans like Muwonge Kyazzo Matthias and Banadda Godfrey who might have been mentored by Teresa Musoke whose art graces the cover of this year’s glossy catalogue.

The other marvelous thing about the preview is that one can get up close and personal with all the works, not necessarily to touch (please don’t), but to actually take some time and see what is rightfully considered contemporary African art.

This show is also special because one will have the chance to see the wide variety of media that the artists employ. Of course, there is plenty of oil or acrylic paint on either canvas or paper, enamel on board, and shredded newspaper. But there are also watercolors, charcoal with ink, colored and graphite pencils, and mixed media of various types. The sculptures also work in mixed media, from wood and scrap metal to soft steel, and spare parts.

The other diversity that one will find in this year’s art auction are the genres. To begin with, there are paintings and sculptures, etchings and woodcuts. But the paintings range from figurative, still life, and portraiture to surrealist, abstract and semi-abstract.

                                                                                               Geoffrey Mukasa

There is something for everyone in this show, starting with the Auction’s colorful catalogue which one needs to have, ideally in advance. Filled with well-researched information on the artists, what’s also useful to know in advance are the minimum and maximum range of bidding possibilities for every work in the show. The minimum is held strictly during the public bidding, but the maximum bids can defy gravity and end up at stratospheric heights. We have seen that in past years, especially as Circle Art sets up several phones for bidders, either local or global, who can call in and keep close track of how their sought-after piece is being handled on the auction floor.

As always, the range of valuation can seem inscrutable, inexplicable. For instance, bidding for one painting can start at Sh79,000 and potentially reach a max of Sh101,000. Meanwhile, another artist’s minimum will be Sh1.36 million while his max can potentially reach Sh2.05 million or more. That’s why it’s worth coming to the auction for the roller coast ride!