Explosion of creative artworks in Nairobi

The Kenyan art scene shifted into high gear this past week as exhibitions and art-related activities were underway at almost every single cultural venue in town, including some that rarely make a public display of their affinity for contemporary local art.

At the United States ambassador’s residence, artworks by both Kenyan and American artists were on display recently. Veteran artists Elijah Ooko, Kivuthi Mbuno and Andrew Kamiti as well as the much younger Tom Mboya were introduced by US Ambassador Robert Godec. Mr Godec also welcomed visiting American artist Timothy Chapman whose works are part of the ART in Embassies programme started by the US State Department in 1963.

Chapman’s “magical realistic” works are filled with fanciful creatures, from flying giraffes to his own invention of “A New Species from the Churr Highlands”, the latter looking like a cross between a zebra and horse who, in place of stripes, is covered in delicate black and white filigreed designs.

A zoologist/biologist by training, Chapman’s penchant for creating fantastical creatures inspired the embassy to invite local artists who share a similar inclination for painting wildlife, from giraffe and gazelle to cheetah and lion cubs.

Visual artists

It was refreshing to see the Americans get more involved in the local visual art scene, especially when other foreign cultural centres are also hosting exhibitions by some of Kenya’s finest visual artists.

For instance, the Goethe Institute has Paul Onditi’s ingenious paintings and installation entitled Pipes that Bind, Faces in Spaces on display until October 9. Meanwhile, Alliance Francaise has a show entitled Gems of Contemporary Kenyan Art featuring artworks by more than 65 local artists.

Gems is an exhibition that fills two whole floors with amazing paintings and sculptures, all by Kenyans. The artists whose works are represented in the show are included in a new book, Creating Contemporary African Art: Art artworks in urban Kenya (1960 to 2010) which was launched the same night as the exhibition was opened.

But that’s only the beginning of the incredible explosion of Kenyan creativity that is on-going through October.

At Nairobi National Museum (where the Storymoja Festival attracted thousands of school children and art-loving adults), the Lake Basin Artists Association have a show entitled Lake Expo, of six artists from Nyanza, including works of the group’s founder Patrick Adoyo and the late Jimmy Rakuru.

At the Talisman restaurant, Adrian Nduma has nearly two dozen large paintings that combine his colourful abstract technique with powerful portraits of more wildlife – lions, leopard and rhino as well as elephants and giraffe.

Over at the Red Hill Gallery, there’s another exceptional group show entitled African Modern. It features many veteran Kenyan artists as well as Ugandans, Tanzanians and even sculptors from Zimbabwe.

Solo exhibition

And down Limuru Road at Banana Hill Art Gallery, Ssali Yusuf’s show wrapped up a week ago so that Patricia Njeri Ndungu could open her solo exhibition entitled A Tale of Colours that includes more than 40 semi-abstract mixed media paintings filled with texture, colourful kitenge textiles blended with bright acrylic paints.

A bit further down Limuru Road, the Little Art Gallery has brought back painters Boniface Maina and Michael Musyoka to the Village Market where both artists have created a whole new collection of artworks for their exhibition entitled Finding Voice III: Fantasy, Rhythm and Blues.

Having made a thematic shift from Finding Voice I and II, Maina and Musyoka have teamed up this time round with Douglas Musyoki whose art blends well with theirs, both in terms of colours that coordinate and imagery that harmonises with Maina’s, which is more of surrealistic and Musyoka’s who calls himself a cubist.
Their show opened last Sunday and runs for several weeks.

Nyumba Kumi

Kuona Trust was also buzzing last week when Kevo Stero’s installation exhibition entitled Nyumba Kumi opened on Thursday night.
Named after the government’s controversial initiative aimed at curbing terrorist threats and strengthening communal participation in policing, Kevo, a long-standing member of the Kibera-based Maasai Mbili, provides a unique perspective on the policy.

Having researched Kibera residents’ points of view towards Nyumba Kumi, his show offers rare insight into what people on the ground feel about the programme.

Auctions

And two excellent exhibitions that are ongoing from last weekend are Peter Elungat and Olivia Pentergast’s joint exhibition at OneOff Gallery, and at the Crea House off Lower Kabete Road, the trio of Willie Wambugu, Evanston Kangethe and Ray Piwi have a show entitled Kenya Awakening which was curated by Samantha di Ripa.

Finally, there will be two illuminating art auctions in the coming days, one organised by the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, and the other by Circle Art Agency and featuring rare artworks from all over East Africa.