Personification of the Rotary Family

Uganda Mon 07-03-2011

Personification of the Rotary Family
By Nuwa Wamala Nnyanzi

In the Rotarian magazine of November 2010, Diana Schoberg aptly describes famous artist Rotarian Rossin Raichev as “the artist who is known for his realistic style of portraiture”. Accompanying the article is a photo of the artist shown in his studio with some of his well-executed portraits of famous people: Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan (former US Presidents) and Paul Harris founder of the Rotary movement.

Rotarian Rossin Raichev in his studio

Paul Harris' portrait is a recent addition to Rossin’s gallery of Luminaries. Rossin, while on a 2008 trip to Nigeria to paint former president Olusegun obasanjo, witnessing the polio eradication effort in and was inspired to contribute through what he knows best i.e. “Portraiture”.

Before executing the portrait, the artist looked at photographs of Paul Harris and read about his life to glean insights into his character. According to Rossin “A photographic likeness is not the goal, but rather a launching point”.

He states further: “The fundamental difference between the photograph and my painting is that in the photograph you see the person; in the painting you see the personality” Rossin Raichev’s remarkable portrait of Paul Harris, was unveiled during a visit by Past Rotary International (R.I) President John Kenny’s to the artist’s rotary club in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in April 2010. It is up for auction (bidding starts at $25,000/=) and prints are being sold to benefit Rotary’s US $ 200m (Two hundred million) challenge.

As a Rotarian since 1997 and visual arts practitioner since 1978 Nuwa Nnyanzi felt challenged and inspired by Rossin’s gesture of good will, selflessness and generousity while defending his classification.

Rotarians are widely regarded and justifiably so as members of one family with a big heart.

In line with the above he created a batik painting with three key people who form the nucleus family. A father, mother and child.

I decided to substitute their heads with a rotary wheel, which is probably one of the most recognozieable symbols in the world.

In the batik painting the father figure on the left side represents Rotary International, the mother figure on the right right represents the Rotary district and the child in the centre stands for the Rotary club.

The cogs of the wheels touch each other in a way that if one moves it will inevitably cause the others to move too. Just like it is in the Rotary movement where Rotary International (RI) although the main source of funds distribution, gets most of its resources from clubs through contributions from districts and country offices, on top of their donors who in most cases get to know about the projects through the same network.

^{'The Personification of the Rotary Family' created by Rtn Nuwa Wamala Nnyanzi (PP) of the Roatary Club of Kampala West, District 9200 in defence of his classification and for the purpose of becoming a major donor to Rotary Foundation.}

The family is also depiced in a fellowship mode. When looked at in totality, the viewer will see the family encapsulated in a shape of a heart to signify kindness and generousity. Light radiates from the family image and gradually darkens on the outer space to signify hope.

While in Paul Harris' photograph you see the person and in Rossin Raichev’s painting of Harris you see the personality, in Nuwa's batik painting you are likely to experience ‘The Personification of the Rotary Family’.

Prints are available in three sizes, framed, matted/mounted.
8"x10"................ugx 45,000/=........ $20
13"X16"..............ugx 85,000/=.........$40
16"x22"..............ugx 120,000/=.........$60

Proceeds will be shared as follows:
50%.................Roatary Foundation.
20%.................Club
30%.................artist's expenses

For more information contact: Nuwa Wamala Nnyanzi at nnyanziart@gmail.com

Posted By: Maggie Otieno

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