Ugandan Artist Going Back To Basics

Uganda Mon 05-07-2010

Ugandan Artist Going Back To Basics
By Sophie Alal | AfricanColours.Com

Artist Micheal Opio Orech At Work

Thrust between Port Bell and the Industrial Area, Bugolobi still remains one of the hairiest residential areas in the suburbs of Kampala. The intersection is chocked full of motorists and pedestrians traipsing to and from the open air market and the supermarkets along the strip.

With the ground still moist from a morning shower, the potholes are brimming red with mud as I stand waiting outside a fast food restaurant. A dark saloon car pulls up alongside the street, and the driver introduces his friend as Jimmy as we make our way to Mutungo.

Michael Opio, our driver, pauses to blow the horn as a 4X4 makes a dangerous maneuver. He murmurs displeasure under his breath but gives way all the same. “In Kampala you have to be rough. Now I’m even being very polite”, he says as we pick our way through unplanned human settlements.

At his home-cum-studio, Michael talks about the many years it took for Opitox Art to become recognisable and what it means to his personal pursuit of happiness. After graduating from Makerere University, he was shut up behind documents and spent years as an archivist with the Bank Of Uganda.

He recounts an anecdote by a colleague remarking about his young age and asking him, “Why are you inside a library? That’s a job for old men.”

Untitled by Opio Micheal

Untitled by Michael Opio Orech

His natural progression was literally to take his hobbies very seriously, one of which is creating art and so far, his burgeoning skills have matured into a series of productions from cotton to recycled material. Everything that has a usable face has had its turn in his hands.

He employs a variety of traditional African motifs in his work. From lizards which represent good fortune to the peaceful symbols such as fish and blue water, and inanimate objects like masks and pots, all are interlaced with tribal marks and decorative splashes and dots.

Behind him is a colour portrait of himself, sketched by the talented John Mary Mukiza. If friendships go a long way to develop the individual, then Mukiza’s exhortation to curate work has only started to sink in lately. Mukiza, after seeing Opio’s work, told him to entitle them but Michael is still at a loss for striking titles.

In Uganda and abroad, the Bahamas based Peter Otim has built a large body of work that incorporates stick men in a variety of ways. Looking to Stella Atal for vindication of his work, and their shared unflagging admiration for west african art, Atal’s Dancing Stickmen soon became his motivation for continuing along the same lines.

Untitled by Opio Micheal

Untitled by Michael Opio Orech

He daubs more paint onto the front of the tee shirt that he is wearing, priming it so that it later becomes another of his decorated t-shirts. He looks at the wall and says, “My first art like this was on a t-shirt” and he, describes his art as “Feel good.”

Some artists out there are devoted to finding new styles - styles so creative that exponents of contemporary art are still surprising the public with their findings. For other artists, other than delving into an all out white wash of the usual expectations, they are going back to the basics; from dots to lines and finally stick figures.

His characters are not so unfamiliar stick people in the throes of trying to forge a lifelike being. They are stripped down the basic fabrics of movement, namely limbs gyrating with an exaggerated joy. It therefore seems that the soul of his work is to distill as much life as possible into his figures.

One painting divided into six panels depicts musicians playing jjembes, adungus and dancers with ankle rings stepping up to the tunes. His stick men are devoid of stress, and carry a lightness that makes the moment stretch on as if to say: “take it easy, don’t rush this moment.” It is enjoyable to look at and maybe possess.

Untitled By Opio Micheal

Untitled by Michael Opio Orech

But if there is one thing his art is not yet registered to do is to make money as most of the pieces are given away to friends, while the survivors gladly hang on every wall of his five roomed house.

With neither title nor explanation, an androgynous figure steps out of a smoky background, Its curved arms and jutting hipbones are fused. A piled head dress sits atop its head, while the face is lined and dotted with tribal marks while all round its features is a continuous line of blurred yellow that encloses feet of watery blue.

It gives the aura of some nature spirit newly sprung from Ben Okri’s The Famished Road. This is one of the few water colour paintings that date back to 2004.

Another angle to the joy of life is continuously finding new life after the destruction of functional objects. Such pieces include the remains of a calabash, a reconstituted wood panel, abandoned masks and traditional music instruments that have long gone silent. All the jagged pieces are embellished and recast as art.

Untitled by Opio Micheal

Untitled by Michael Opio Orech

A simple monochromatic image of a black lizard on a sepia background turns out to be a cut off from a wood panel, while a nine inch long hand painted mask is nothing more than what was once a drinking calabash. Somehow a cumulative sense of balance is achieved on every wall despite the various methods of presentation.

Some pieces are hung from nails, others are directly painted onto surfaces while a few are mounted inside frames of glass and wood.

By producing only hand painted t-shirts as wearable art, the twenty five year old has limited himself from tapping into the robust possibilities latent in recycling objects. His style has also shifted from the wealth and depth of a mysterious past, to the present one that is more profanely tribal.

Circumstances have been a critical contributor to his humble approach to art. Yet a memorable point for his work was when he showcased two paintings at a general exhibition at Nommo Gallery in 2003. Fresh out of secondary school and expressing symptoms of the blithe optimism of youth, he was turned down by Tulifanya Gallery on grounds of not yet being ready to hack into the tough world of professional art!

Untitled by Michael Opio Orech

However he has not rolled over so easily, but has continued creating new pieces, asif pour encourager les autres. Even now, he still reiterates, “Not yet. I’m taking it slow.”

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Your Comments

winny: GOOD STUFF, MICHEAL. MAKE UGANDA SHINE!!

Tilda Nabbanja: Ahaa!!! Talent man!!! Let it all out coz for real your pieces are +++ and just keep 'em coming!! Lovely!!

Ruth Akol: Way to go Orech..l wish u all the best....am ur nbr 2 fan!!!realise your dreams..!!x

Patricia Nnam: I love the art, I've not seen anything like it ever! Its fresh and original. I like how the images come alive. Awesome!

victor walusimbi: Michael, after knowing how far you've come, that article tells just how dedicated you've been. Art is you passion and brother, pursue it further however, no one ever understands your sentiments behind a particular piece. In that regard, give each piece a title as advised.

Diana T R: Way to go, Michael! God bless the work of your hands.

Cathie : Very proud of you!!!!wishing u the very best!i know u can shine..so am waiting to see the star in you!

Brendah Apio: Michael, wao this is amazing! this art is cute, u know i always thought u were joking when u talk abt my trying 2 bring out art..... I pray God takes you to another level with this.... GBU my dear

jonathan okiria: MAN Mike I saw u start this from scratch now you are a well reknowed fabolous Ugandan artist, You are doin us proud. keep it up and experiment alittle further. materials and textures..etc

moses: Michael this is good man, i honestly didnt think u had such talent though am wondering is that a wax treated canvas? man this is good

cecilia: wow! this is great stuff, kip it going micheal....Africa n the world will alws love this mos def...GBU.

sarah: Good, boy i am proud of u. keep it up. u have to compete internationally soon

Lovisa Chrispin: Michael, you have gotten better at this- Bravo. I like that it is a unique and abstract style, it make it even better- (like one ealrier commented)let's have an abstract title to match it, that will make every piece perfect.

lee solomon: I've always admired ur works boy....nice piece!!

Badstyle Ugandan: Thats ma Badstyle Brov in there....simple,klassy and Afrikan!!!

Atusiimire Shallon: Micheal, You are the best. am proud of U. Keep it up. You have all my support. God bless you.

Rachel: Hey, am loving....totally cool

shamim: hey dude now i nid ma free sample first!!but wow i love ur work and true to dat quite and humble persona icud never tell u did those tshirts urself!!congrats!!wish i cud add more to the articleithe article about ur wonderful character as a person most of it which makes u an amazing artist!!!

Kwesiga Ainebyoona: “Do you see a man who is skilled in his work? He will stand before kings....” Proverbs 10:22. Michael this is awesome!!! Keep it coming!

Keba: You can definitely see the passion from a mile away! Mike this is fantastic! I love the originality, creativity, the happy free-style feel to it plus the whole African theme. Well done bro, well done! Hey titles though, titles! I don't think you want to have so many Nameless kids running allover the place now, do ya? Hehehehe ...oh and Mike, where's the money @? Hire a manager or something :)

Maximus: keep the flame burning!!! where are u based?

Ann: Good job Michael, good job, I am so happy for you.

Albert Murungi: This is brilliant stuff my man...keep it going and we need the pieces in shops soonest!!

Clement Enyondo: Mike...That's talent. i love the back ground colors and the simplicity you put in to bring out those artistic pieces...tell us when you are exhibiting them...

Bosco Temangalo: Go Opi....Go Uganda. way to go n all the best.

Rachel Alweny: ok...thats hard to pull off bt u did. i especially liked the xplanations of each drawing.it meks one like the art more and more. explicit work Michael

Louis Okema: nice but basic.......u should put in some mistry.....let it be some what abstract

Amunyo Donnel Roy: as an artist too, i like the way you use color and shape to keeping your work african yet contemporary. You have personally posed a challenge to we artist and that i like

MSN: Mike take it further each new. Some people think there is a difference between talent and skill. That skill could be taught. Keep learning and improving.

Emmy Gerry: Mike, da work is awesome n we'll try to market this gifted handy work for u,n "Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night" ~Terri Guillemets

tonnie muso: opitox man its really good stuff and good sense to colours keep on ,man never give up bse the talent is really there

tonnie: opitox really good stuff with a high sense to colours ,man never give up bse u really got the talent

mauna: micheal, me likey. . .!!!!

franklin: man this is good stuff. i didnt think u had all this potential. U definately making it in this business

cyrill Patrick: pretty good achievement Michael i commend u for the effort and dedication to what u find disirable to yr heart and thought. It's indeed a turnout to yr future prosperity.what else can i say !Kudos

Ada Dianne: Gwe, big up! Nyc. Congs cz! Make us proud.. XoXo..

Adad: Keep it going and am proud of you as ever. Do what your heart tells you and never get discouraged.

Vanessa: Amazing work fisherman!!!Proud of u...

moses echuman: hey buddy i had no idea that you can do this Incredible art work. its great work i like it.

Gordon: Awesome pieces dude. Get them titled and you are onto the next level. Keep it up.

Likambo William: Man, you just never seize to amaze me. You should really hit it Big, go go go OP.

Patricia: Greaaaaat pieces...keep em comin!

Mwebe Viva: you are talented, am in love with ya work, keep it up cheers,ta,

andrew umah tete: Way to go bro, you have done us proud. Wish you even more success in the years ahead

David: Good staff mike!! Remember the exhibition

cathy ochwo: I am so happy for you...CONGS!! Looking forward to the December exhibition,....however, i am waiting for my FREE sample of yo art.

Michelle: WOW! Good stuff, I am not someone who is interested in art or even knows art but that is good, looks really nice, something I would buy. You are very talented.

Canowira Timothy: man bro.....@....so proud of u...infact,i couldn't knw dat u do this...man...u so good.....i zalawa computer work starting from 2da....u da man every 1 in da Ofamily every 1 should bow down 4........i dought whether n one in da ofamily is doing dat.......????man u da man......

Stacy Shoo: Dude, Am astonished by yours, simply remarkable i must admit it!! looking forward to december. NB: aRT piECEs better not cost me an arm and leg...lol!!

Judith: totally impressive OP. At this rate not even the stars can be a limit....kip on keepin on.

anky ruby: am so happy for you micheal...and am so proud of you..Ebenezer. keep up the good work.

Gipson Ojok Masambu: Wow!! this is cool stuff Michael, I din't know u were that good.

Mama P.R.A.O.: Well done Michael. You have made us proud. Keep up and I know you will realise your dreams soon. Mama and Charlie

emakol: simply awesome....am happy for you

kasirye dennis: micheal, putting every thing aside, am humbled

benji: brav these are some nice pieces for real you should work on doing a solo exhibition............hit us with the dates

Jasper: Hey Mike, awesome as always but for a guy who has seen your work through some time, its becoming predictable! try adventuring out! I love your work but it would be very easy to spot it ober time! Besides, let it knock me like the first time!

sophie: That's awesome Micheal, speaking of giving out your art pieces to friends, i still have the white shirt you gave me with your art work on its been 3 years now but it still looks great, way to go boy! make us proud, this will be huge for you some day.

Fsc Paddy: Astounding stuff.

beqy: i know this guy, i know this guy!!! Fantastic stuff, but you know that already. Now to getting my hands on one of those pieces...:-)

Pauline: Amazing pieces of work Micheal. Truly truly, the sky is the limit

Pierre: This is excellent, i like the originality of your work..go on..

ONGWECH ANTHONY: Yeah! Dats how we do it here, nigga.u feel dat?

Kasozi Tinah: Micheal this art is so inspiring. didnt know u had such talent. yr really good my frend, pls continue to let it out and shine for the entire EA to see

Isaiah.K: No way, I don't think it's your work. Ur so crazy to have such nice ideas!

irene N: beautiful and unique, great ideas i like..

flash: Dude!awww...wait 4 it..esome. u'v bn sitting on a gold mine n u didnt even kno it. Picasoz got nothing on u! luv the lizard,like how u r able 2 explain yo pieces. now on 2 the next step, i think u shd market yo stuff. proud of ya!

Jachan Martin: Brother, what exactly do you mean by not being ready, you seem more ready than all artists i've come into contact with... if it is a manager yo lacking then consider that solved this minute

Jeje: Good young man u are worth an investment licence

Judyth Julz: OP good work...impressive..my 2 thumbs are up!

akii: POTENTIAL...OYINA POTENTIAL!!!!!! am very proud that it has come to be.....!!! damn, didnt think u wa this gd, dont get me wrong, i know ur gd but didnt know THIS GOOD!!! u had beta use the relas in london to advertise...

Eve: really good art pieces u got,grt talent too.All the best in all u do.God bless

JMNdaus: Great stuffs. The resilience is paying off. Big tings ahead.

lawino rachel: wow, i remember the first t-shirt u made me years ago.. ur work is awesome! well done.

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