Kempinski to auction local artists' works to aid TB research

During their 120th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Kempinski group, Nairobi’s Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel is proving its commitment to supporting contemporary Kenyan art and especially the artists.

The Hotel has done so by commissioning David Thuku to create an exceptional work of art, a colourful hanging installation that entices the eye as one enters the foyer and front lobby.

They have also done so by continuing a collaborative arts project with Kuona Trust that will culminate tomorrow (Saturday) night with a reception, exhibition and art auction of works by 14 specially selected Kenyan artists.

The first ‘Wasanii Jukwaani’ was held a year ago, again in collaboration with Kuona Trust.

One couldn’t be sure at the time that the Kempinski would carry on a Wasanii Jukwaani tradition.

But thanks to the continuity of commitment provided by the Hotel’s management, JW’s Second Edition took off this past Monday with 14 local artists setting up temporary art ‘studios’ in various conspicuous locations around the hotel.

The idea is, just like last year, the artists will have a working week to create art pieces which they will then exhibit on Saturday in Kempinski’s luxurious ballroom where the public can participate in a so-called Silent Auction during the day and then be back at 6pm to take part in the live auction that should be much engaging and entertaining than last year’s.

Last year, the auction was only a silent affair.

That meant people could go around, see the work, and then write down the figure they wanted to spend for the painting, sculpture or whatever creative form the artists had designed.

So there was little excitement and virtually nothing said about what buyers were paying for the artists’ best works.

This year, Kithure has vowed to make the art auction more lively, even as it’s bound to be more professional.

The auctioneer has yet to be announced, but as of day 2, the 14 artists were already well on their way to creating mainly paintings that people could be happy to hang in their homes or offices or simply keep as a long-term investment.

The investment value of the artworks being created throughout this week in assorted corners of the Kempinski will undoubtedly vary, just as the ages of the artists do.

For this year, the youngest artist taking part is 17 while the oldest is 54.

But all of them were hand-picked by seasoned Kuona artists who made a valiant effort to reach out to fellow creatives all over the town.

Some came straight from Kenyatta University (Anne Mwariri, Martin Musyoka and Brian Nyabuti), others from the Karen Village (Nayianoi Sitonik), the Dust Depo (Hunnington Gwanzu) and the GoDown (Mike Kyalo), others from Brush tu Art Studio (Waweru Gichuhi and David Thuku) with only a few (like Dennis Muraguri, Nadia Wamuyu and Anthony Wanjohi) coming straight from Kuona itself.

A few came straight from their home studios, (like Tabitha wa Thuku) while Elijah Mutua, being mainly a graffiti artist, spends some time working at the Dust Depo but is more often seen on the site where fellow graffiti artists are beautifying a wall (or walls).

Wasanii Jukwaani 2

Quite a few of the artists taking part in Wasanii Jukwaani 2 are self-identified as being ‘self-taught’.

Nonetheless, they also admit they were seriously mentored by mellow guys like Patrick Mukabi.

The rest came from art schools like KU or Buru Buru Institute of Fine Art. But all are self-propelled painters, sculptors and/or specialists in mixed media like Tabitha wa Thuku who’s currently working with both acrylic and oil paints; but she’s also blending them with everything from banana juice and mugumu tree sap to coffee grounds and other ad hoc concoctions that she’s been known to improvise.

But as diverse as the WJ2 crew is this year, none is more notable that the 17 year old artist who gained renowned after his headmaster threw him out of school for creating what the principal called “demonic art.”

Ian Njenga’s shocking story went viral after it appeared in one of the daily papers and quickly got circulated on Kenya’s vibrant social media.

Most local artists were irate at the school’s treatment of the clearly gifted young man.

Most believed he should have been rewarded or at least applauded for his imaginative artistry, not treated like a pariah and ‘sinner’ no better than trash.

One of the finest decisions the Villa Rosa Kempinski made this year was to invite Ian Njenga to take part in WJ2, to accommodate him fully throughout the week and to afford him the opportunity to meet and work side by side with other creative artists.

The theme of this year’s Wasanii Jukwaani 2 is 1897 which is the year that Berthold Kempinski founded the business that today owns hotels all over the world.

But none will be celebrating in quite the same artistic style as the Villa Rosa as one will see this coming Saturday night.

Fifty per cent of the revenues garnered from the auction will go to the artists while 30 per cent will be used to cover the hotel’s expenses, including the cocktail reception tomorrow night.

The final 20 per cent will go to a grassroots program addressing the problem of TB among women and children in Kenya.