A Visit To Banana Hill Studio

Kenya Thu 30-03-2006

A Visit To Banana Hill Studio
By Duncan Miriri

Kenyan artists discouraged by the sheer challenge of setting up meaningful groups for productive work take heart; there is a tried and tested, working model.

Out in the laid back, greenery enchanted Banana Hill village in Kiambu district, just a few kilometers outside of Nairobi, a group of forty-five artists are busy churning out oil and acrylics paintings 'due to a desire for paintings that last'.

'We do not use water based paints, as they do not last long like oil and acrylics," explains secretary of the group, Martin Kamuyu as he applies paint on a work titled Saviour that depicts a typical Kenyan village and a cart pusher who supplies water to the households.

"Some of us also do sculpturing but space limitations means few sculptures have been made by the group', adds Kamuyu.

The hundreds of paintings that I found at the Banana Hill Art Studio of contemporary African art on a recent visit are a testimony to the fact that artists can harness their resources together, and through a common purpose, are able to create art.

The main challenge to artists in this country is lack of space to do their work and the necessary materials such as paints.

The group started in 1992, when twelve artists started out to create art as a group with shared resources in materials and living costs through the help of 37-year-old artist, Shine Tani who had already cut a niche for himself as an artist with a media profile.

Shine Tani who had constantly appeared on TV programs shared his materials, food and accommodation with the rest for the first few years. In 1996, the Ministry of Culture registered the artists' association as a self-help group.

Banana Hill Art Studio has since endured tough times. "SInce Kenya has no manufacturer of arts materials, artists obtain imported materials at a very high price", says Tani.

Banana Art StudioHe adds that there is an apparent lack of interest in art in the Kenyan society 'which leads to lack of exposure even in the media'.

The artists have however hang in there through the years and have held exhibitions both locally and abroad. They have received support from organizations and individuals. "We are currently getting support from the Ford Foundation throughRamoma gallery. We paint because we want to express ourselves and to cure the urge inside of us to give life to our artistic expressions", says Kamuyu.

Banana Hill Art Studio has artists like Willy Wamuti, Sebastian Kiarie, Joe Friday, Rose Kanini and Rachael Wangari among others.

The themes that they tackle range from social messages like Kamuyu's Asset on cost sharing in public life to dreamy paintings that evoke feelings such as one untitled painting by Jeff Wambugu that hangs at the back of the studio.

Related Links:

Banana Hill Artists and more : Inside African Art

Posted By: African Colours

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