Exciting lineup for art lovers in year-end shows

This is the season for versatile group exhibitions and affordable art shows as well as for several solo exhibitions.

Among the soloists, there’s Nuru Bahati’s digital art works entitled People Change at the Dust Depo Studio through December 18, Ugandan artist Enock Mukiibi at Banana Hill Gallery through the New Year, Gor Soudan’s Imprints paintings at Red Hill Gallery which will be up until January 25, Korean ceramist Kim Sung-Jin at Nairobi National Museum through January 18, watercolours by Chris Campbell Clause at the Talisman restaurant up until December 18, Elaine Kehew’s Chasing Waterfalls at the Lord Erroll restaurant and Patrick Kinuthia’s colourful paintings entitled Ni ya Leo through January 25 at The Art Space.

For some reason, only a fraction of The Art Space was filled with Patrick’s paintings, so it was no surprise to see the remainder of his work at Dusit D2’s once-a-month showcase recently in The Den, where he shared that space with several outstanding East African painters such as Patrick Mukabi, Adrian Nduma, Leonard Kateete, Taskin Butt and Sam Madoka, a former TV personality and advertising executive who has now revealed himself to be a talented visual artist.

But Dusit is just one of several group shows going on prior to the Christmas, Hannekah and New Year’s holiday season. There’s an exceptional one at One Off Gallery featuring the third edition of “Recent (and wonderful) Works” by Peter Ngugi (whose 30 feet tall scrap metal and spoon tree was just installed at (The Hub in Karen), Timothy Brooke, Richard Kimathi, Peterson Kamwathi, Beatrice Wanjiku, Peter Elungat, James Mbuthia, Ehoodi Kichapi, Florence Wangui, Harrison Mburu, Jackson Wanjau and Fitsum Berhe.

There’s also the Affordable Art exhibition at the Polka Dot Gallery in Karen where Lara Ray is catering specially for holiday shoppers with lovely paintings and prints by local artists as well as holiday cards which may also serve as miniature works of art.

Among the artists exhibiting at Polka Dot are several Ugandans, including Ronnie Ogwang, Anwar Sadat and Ronnie Tindi, April Zhu and Elaine Kehew, Patti Endo, Caroline Mbirua and Sophie Walbeoffe.

Circle Art Gallery also has an outstanding group exhibition entitled The Third Dimension which embraces everything 3D, including sculptures, installations, functional art and even a wire crucifix.

The artists whose amazing works are on display include Joseph “Bertiers” Mbatia, Cyrus Kabiru, Peter Walala, Dennis Muraguri, Meshack Oiro, Gor Soudan, Kioko Mwitiki, Mwini Mutuku, Onyis Martin and Anthony Wanjau.

It is a collection of assorted 3D works that should not be missed by anyone keen to discover the dynamism and diversity of Kenyan contemporary art.

Meanwhile, the British Institute of East Africa has lately paid greater attention to contemporary African art. Up until a week ago it had an important collection of 100 sculptures by 22 Zimbabwean artists entitled Faces of Zimbabwe. The show was curated by Carola Rasmussen.

Visit the Village Market where you’ll find lots of the latest paintings and sculptures by nearly all the resident artists based at Kuona Trust and several others such as Beth Kimwele, Wanjohi Nyamu and John Kamicha.

The fate of the Trust is still in limbo, so friends of Kuona who want to show their support for the artists and faith in Kuona’s future would do well to visit Village Market’s exhibition hall through December 20.

Meanwhile, at Kuona’s own gallery there is Wrong Number, an exhibition of works by resident artists Lemek Tompoika and Paul Njihia. Both artists use their work to challenge the increasing power that numbering, ranking and digitising of people Western culture has brought to Kenya, especially in education.

Lemek’s sentiments are expressed through the combination of painting and collage while Njihia’s paintings include ensemblies of school children whose anonymity is reinforced with identical school uniforms which also cloak their individuality.

Both artists also have their works at the Village Market show that has been extended from this coming weekend to December 20.

Finally, refugee artists were visible at two separate venues last weekend, first at the Nairobi National Museum where UNHCR had sponsored artists from both Kakuma and Dadaab camps and simultaneously at the Kenya Fashion Market where we found one talented Rwandese artist named Bahimba Thaddee Macumi at the Ngong Racecourse.

On display were his mahogany chairs, tables and 3D relief “paintings” all carved in wood, but given a life of their own by this refugee artist who learned to carve after he arrived in Kenya some years ago.