FOUR ALL-KENYAN ART SHOWS OPENED LAST WEEK

 

                                                                       Anthony Okello's Masques at One Off's Recent Works exhibition in The Loft

By Margaretta wa Gacheru (appeared in Saturday Nation August 4, 2018)

Four exceptional exhibitions of Kenyan art just opened this past week in Nairobi, illustrating once again that contemporary Kenyan art is thriving. It’s also surprising since all four are group shows (two at one venue) displaying recent works that haven’t been shown in public before.

                                                                                       Florence Wangui's Cocks in the Line: the Basic Element show in the One Off Stables

The most socially relevant of the four is at Circle Art Gallery featuring ‘Recent’ works by three artists based at the Wajukuu Art Project. All three, Lawrence ‘Shabu’ Mwangi, Joseph ‘Weche’ Waweru and Ngugi ‘Googs’ Waweru are founder members of Wajukuu, which is a community-based cultural centre set deep in Mukuru slum. All three critically appraise various aspects of urban life in their art. Weche is sensitive to the congestion of city life and the struggles that hardworking Kenyans face just to survive. Creating seemingly abstract patterns in his work, his message gains clarity if one appreciates the way his creatures (ants apparently) serve to symbolize human experience.

Googs, on the other hand, had first-hand experience with gun violence when his grandmother got shot. She survived but that hasn’t stopped him exploring the issue of gun violence in his art. And Shabu’s paintings often reflects on the plight of the oppressed and disadvantaged. Their show will run through August 21^th.

In sharp contrast to Wajukuu’s gritty but graceful approach is the exhibition at Polka Dot Gallery entitled ‘Why I love Kenya’. Filled with idyllic images of the most exquisite natural features of Kenyan landscapes, one will find images of some of the most beautiful spots in the country by painters like Patrick Kinuthia, Yony Waite, Coster Ojwang, Nayianoi Sitonik, Anne Mwiti, David Roberts, Caroline Mbirua and Leah Njenga.

                                                                                         Joseph 'Weche' Waweru's art at Circle Art Gallery

At the same time, the show reflects aspects of urban life by artists like Wycliffe ‘Wiki’ Opondo, Kennedy Kinyua, Nelson Ijakaa, Damba Ismael and Wilson Matunda. In all, it’s a lovely showcase of the country’s beauty. Most of it’s in paintings, both oils and acrylics, but a few, like Wiki’s images of Kibera, are etchings.

Finally, it was at One Off Gallery that one saw the opening of not one but two very different exhibitions. Ever since Carol Lees transformed her stable into gallery space, she’s brought a diversity of works together. In this case, the art in the ex-stable was curated by Thom Ogonga and Jonathan Solanye. Meanwhile, she assembled the recent artworks by some of her favorite artists, including Anthony Okello, Olivia Prendergast, James Mbuthia, Harrison Mburu, Collin Sekajugo, Naomi van Rampelberg inside the original gallery, The Loft.

                                                                                  Nayianoi Sitonik's Tuk tuk is at Polka dot Gallery in The Kenya we Love show

But the newest works that stole the show last Saturday afternoon were in the Stable, where Thom had invited several artists to submit works to an exhibition he’d entitled ‘Line: the Basic Element’.

Those who responded included everyone from Mercy Kagia, David Thuku, Florence Wangui, Wanjohi Maina, Longinos Nagila and Sebawali Sio to Ndeithi Kariuki, Janice Ichi, Patti Endo, Agnes Waruguru and co-curator Jonathan Solanke.

                                                                                            Patti Endo's Nude at the Line exhibition at One Off Gallery

The simplicity of the artists’ works contributed to the wonder of this show. Some worked in silkscreen (like David Thuku and Wanjohi Maina), others in acrylics (like Janice Iche), others ink and watercolor (Mercy Kagia and Patti Endo) and still others in charcoal and pastels (like Florence Wangui and Jonathan Solanke). Longinos Nagila and Agnes Waruguru both worked in mixed media.

Ndeithi Kariuki's piano hands

But possibly the most surprising works using this basic element of a simple line, were aluminum wire sculptures by Ndeithi Kariuki. A marketing manager by day, he does his art at night and on weekends. One can see how music has inspired his art since one’s a silhouette of Jimi Hendrix’s guitar, the other two hands on piano keys playing jazz.

                                                                                                                           by Yony Waite at Polka Dot gallery