Art In Kampala Takes A New Direction

Uganda Thu 28-08-2008

Art In Kampala Takes A New Direction
By Ben Bukenya/AfricanColours.com

A review of prevalent activity around artist-centred grounds in Kampala shows that art continues to explore new horizons to reachout to the public. The latest attempts depict joint efforts to marry one or more kinds from each of the performing and visual categories.

As a matter of observation, the artistic practice and expression are considerably shifting from the ordinary towards exploring new heights of presentation. This wonderful opportunity to oversee the kind of movement has been induced by the most daring artists who have worked innovatively to showcase their unique productions in a significantly inventive fashion.

“Karibuni”

Firday August 22, painter Anwar Sadat Nakibinge unveiled his new works in a stylistic show “karibuni” at Afriart Gallery in Kampala. In a completely new fashion, Awar set up a warm display of white footprints from the gallery entrance directing guests to the inside.

At the centre of the exhibition space, an installation of converted house furniture and computer monitors, set in a colourful arrangement, looked pretty inviting, but teasing for the viewer.

The floor was filled with paper cut -offs, a kind of African double-welcoming clarity that reminded me of old-day village wedding receptions where green grass was displayed under palm leaf shades to honour guests.

Like else where on the upcoming scene, the principle medium was acrylic on canvas and the female figure a common subject - symbolizing the beauty of Africa. But exceptionally fruit, fish and livestock motifs - describing the things people want and what they go through to get them was fresh and bold.

Anwar’s trademark textural effects were built through a masking process of acrylic pallet-layers. This was the centre of adventure for feelings, conflicts and interactions between people's minds, a kind of unusual reaction from our audience.

Dominated by curvilinear forms with in-depth highlights of brilliant purples and yellows, the works suggested a feel of openness and eagerness for the viewer to get inside. This must have been the core behind the uncommon price tags.

Thursday August 14 final year students at the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts opened this year’s “The Best of Me” at the Makerere University Gallery.

The major aim of the show has always been to harness the students’ talent and expose them to the rigours of marketing and selling art. According to the display, students picked all kinds of material and turned them into paintings, drawings, sculptures, jewellery, ceramics and textiles.

This revealed their urge to experiment without necessarily diverting from original concepts.

A combination of both aesthetic and functional values of art-making was seen in dresses made out of recycled polythene bags, sacks and condoms. This could be the turning point for the artist to use the most immediate material to portray the most immediate statement for the most immediate audience.

Who are you?

A few months ago, a platform for young upcoming musicians, painters, sculptors and fashion designers was created. The Words and Pictures (WAPI) is the association, set to merge visual and performing arts. August 8 – 10 these Ugandan youngsters took over the stage at Hotel Africana in a show “Gwe Ani?” (Who are you) with an aim to explore participants’ identities.

The artistes creatively presented unique aspects of society to explored a wide range of themes through paintings, graffiti, crafts, jewellery and wall hangings. Improvised materials, deep colour schemes, inventively selected ideas all displayed great levels of creativity.

Fascinating enough were the wall hangings, made from used sack material. With images of mothers going about their chores in a typical village setting exposed the vast potential of this material.

Incorporation of beauty and function was displayed in pieces of jewellery made out of recycled paper. Brilliantly coloured graffiti art boards, of gigantic sizes, sent out broad and inviting messages about Hip Hop, culture and the challenges of modern living.

Painting the Music

Tuesday July 22 at the Katonga Hall, Kampala Serena Hotel, a trio of respected visual artists; Daudi Karungi, Maria Naita and Henry Mzili together with world music singer, Richard Kawesa launched a project “Paint the Music”.

The initiative is a collaboration to inscribe a new art form, Music Art. It is believed that although other forms have become popular, music and fine art remain the backbone of artistic expression.

The concept allows for the two ends, music and art, to bring to life ideas presented through a process that results into artwork. The process involves painters working together with musicians to produce work based on selected songs.

The painters first internalise the message in a song, before producing a painting based on the message. Through all this, the painters work with the film director and actors to edit the entire painting process before making a music video out of it. A completed painting will then be sold with a CD copy of the song that inspired it.

Paint the Music is therefore meant to use painting and music to produce a single artistic language. For the first time, audience will be introduced to the colour of music as interpreted by visual artists. This is a smart way to attract music lovers who have been disloyal to visual art. What a ground-breaking discovery!

The Arty Way

Because art is in its developing stages in Uganda, the custom of reporting from artistic activity may have to change accordingly. It is the right time to think about the arty way to present art if we are to participate fully in the civic life and engage in the global community.

While the nation is busy revolving around its growth, remarkable changes in the art industry cannot be overlooked. Since art has a say to creative thinking, addresses taboos, contributes to beauty, there is need for the public to appreciate art as a basic necessity.

The role of the creative industry to the economy can only be realised if the timely revelation of such hidden talents may be seen to put Uganda on the map.

It is therefore the responsibility of the nation to; support artists working in social justice, integrate support for artists, creativity, and innovation into public policy, watch the responsibility of artists and arts organizations to the civic leaders, and help encourage the creation, development and preservation of other new artistic forms and expressions.

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