RaMoMa Moves To Parklands

Kenya Tue 11-03-2008

RaMoMa Moves To Parklands
By Bertha Kang'ong'oi/AfricanColours.com

Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art – better known as RaMoMA is finally moving from the Rahimtulla Towers offices in Nairobi’s Upperhill district where they have been based since 2001.

The new, expansive, state of the art and conveniently located museum officially opened on Saturday, 15th March with an open day for artists, art lovers and supporters.

“Other than inviting the public to see our new gallery and our space,” says James Muriuki, the curator of the photo and Dodhia galleries at RaMoMA, “we will also stage our first exhibition on that day, with art works submitted by various locally based artists”

^{A view of the new RaMoMA premises at 2nd Parklands, Nairobi}

The new Ramoma, located on the 2nd parklands Avenue seem a little unassuming from outside. There is not much ‘art’ on the outside to give the place away as the heart of art in Nairobi. Save for male and female sculptures at the entrance, - and red and bright orange painted pillars - the place looks no more than a residential abode.

But once inside, the ambience, the design of the different rooms and the art works on display more than make up for the artistic feel whose absence can be felt on the outside.

Patrick Mukabi’s painting of two women sitting outside a Coca-cola kiosk if the first visible painting. But it only opens the way to many more paintings, installations pieces, wood, stone and soapstone carvings as well as photographs.

The design of the staircases, all wood but lined up with animal shapes made from forged metal and the bright rooms – all painted white – gives the inside a warm feel – and yes, that artistic feel of an art museum.

The contributing artists are some of the region’s finest, from Mary Ogembo, to Altayib, John Silver, Fitsum Berhe, Carol Mbirua, Yassir Ali, Shitawa, Otieno Kota, Justus Kyalo, Peterson Kamwathi, to Halfawi and many more.

The quality of the work submitted is outstandingly good.

RaMoMA invited artists to submit their works to be featured at the opening exhibition. “Most of the work submitted is already up,” says Muriuki. “We have stopped accepting paintings but are still open to receive sculptures and photographs by close of business on Thursday”

Miriam Kyambi, whose installation was exhibiting at the Goethe Institut last month will be setting it up at the new RaMoMA and is scheduled to be up by Saturday.

Some of the main features Ramoma, which boasts of 1100square metres of exhibiting space, include a revolving exhibition space – named the Dodhia Gallery, a sculpture garden, a photography gallery, another gallery for hire – named Rahimtulla gallery, a space dedicated for Ramoma’s permanent collection, a resource centre, a Safaricom sponsored children’s gallery, an artist studio, a print studio, an open air stage and performance area, an artists meeting area, a museum shop and a restaurant that is set to open later ion April.

With an air of excitement and great expectations about the new facility in the Kenyan art circles, Ramoma has certainly raised the standard and stature of art many notches higher.

RaMoMa Pictorial:

    A view of the new RaMoMA premises, Nairobi

Posted By: AfricanColours

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