The “Art Salon 523”, a group art exhibition opened at The Kobo Trust in Nairobi on August 18.  Put together by the Kobo artists, also known as the Seven Artists- Timothy Ochola, Rasto Cyprian, Paul Njihia, Nadia Wamunyu, Onesmus Okamar, Onyis Martin, Iona McCreath, Lemek Sompoika, David Thuku, and Taabu Munyoki- the show rethinks alternative ways artworks can be displayed.
A total of 84 pieces of art from 18 artists were showcased at the gallery.
Mixed media artist Onyis Martin tells us what the creative process that went into arranging the pieces and what they hoped to achieve through this exhibition.

Nafsi: What is Art Salon 523?
Onyis: It is a concept that gives artists the freedom to exhibit in unconventional spaces, away from the normal art gallery spaces. It is like a pop-up. This concept asks, “How else can art be displayed?”
We know how art is exhibited at Maasai Market and it is popular because of the prices. People now have a chance to experience that chaotic display here, but at normal gallery prices. The 523 represents Kobo’s physical address along Riara road.

Nafsi: We were happy to see you and your fellow artists arrange the pieces. It seemed to be a thoughtful and fun process and we are curious to know, what informed how pieces of art were displayed for this show?
Onyis: Generally, there are politics as to how artworks are displayed and what we get when they are done in a certain way. This show brought together the gallery, studio, and home. Some artworks were neatly arranged on the walls like in art galleries. There are artworks on the floor, leaning against the floor, similar to what you would see in an art studio when artists are creating. We grew up displaying prints or photographs on walls in our homes as you would see here from works by Elna Akware.

We wanted to see how we can display art that connects to the people from this Geography. Bringing all these three spaces together to fit into one is about playing with creative chaos. We mixed all of these to create harmony or disharmony; we leave that to the audience to interpret.

I feel that there is so much going on in this room that if we were to add a sound or video installation, we would have lost our minds. We were going for the chaos.

Nafsi: There are a lot of ideas being explored in the art world, whether in terms of employing different styles and mediums when making art or when hosting art events. How important is it for you to keep the art world vibrant?
Onyis: We come up with event ideas every month at the least. We were to host an artist hangout with music and nyama choma since we have a good space for that. But Kuona Artists Collective did that only recently. Everyone is trying to push boundaries. If Kuona pushed it, we need to help push it on our end, too. We need to work more together to grow the art world.

Nafsi: That seems to be happening. In many of these exhibitions, a good number of visitors are artists. Visual artists support one another. There were collaborative efforts too with this art salon featuring works by artists who are not from The Kobo Trust.
Onyis: Definitely. There were works by Peter Elungat, Nedia Were, Michael Musyoka, Dickson Kaloki, Cyrus Kabiru, Dennis Muraguri, Fitsum Berhe, and Elnah Akware (an artist who was in residence at Kobo a few weeks ago).

The pieces by some of these artists, including ours, were collected from years back. We brought the old works into this space to juxtapose them with new pieces so that the audience can see how much has changed. For instance, a piece by Fitsum Berhe was created in 2015. Today, Fitsum is very colourful. The aim was to see where we have come from, where we are, and possibly project where we are going.
The idea keeps evolving; perhaps the next art salon is going to be different.

Some two decades ago, Anthony Okello was making art with the hope that one day he would find his own style.

He did.

Now, his works are easy to spot from a gallery of paintings. His solo show, “Between Losing and Finding”, opened on June 25 and is to end on July 24 at One Off Art Gallery in Nairobi. A total of 13 artworks curated by Carol Lees, is on display. This show is a moment for him to introspect his artistic journey of getting lost in myriads of styles to find what best spoke to his craft. Anthony uses oil on canvas, and a palette knife for a textured look. The dull colours add to the focus of the moods of the images. This informs his artistic style.

Okello He began his creative journey as a graphic designer. It was a completely different form of expression for him as he used flat colours, which involved a neat and uniformed approach. Painting, which he later picked, required another creative output from him.

“I had to develop my own style as a painter. Over the years, I had to listen to everything, experiment on a lot of things, learn everything, and then go within to listen to what I wanted. No place can an artist express their style. Sometimes an artist has to go deep within to know their style,” he says.

He came up with his personal style and introduced it to the world through his first solo show ‘Okello Recent Paintings’.
“God made sure that I did not have anything else to occupy my time with at the time so that I could put all my energy into creating art. He denied me everything so that I could solely do this. This was the time in my life that I became more serious as an artist,” he reflects.

Even after finding his style, Okello still had moments where he doubted his skills, enhanced them, while taking risks. Some of his previous works have explored tribal mythologies and identity.
“Art has its own timing. I have had ideas before which needed me to first improve my skills. I have had those instances where I did not know what I was doing but with my personal journey, experience as an artist, and continuous learning, I was able to express those ideas in my art,” he says.

The “Between Losing and Finding” exhibition immerses both the artist and the audience into a contemplative experience. It brings bereavement into focus through ‘The Heaviness’, created after he went through a personal loss. Okello also poses a question to the audience in ‘Which Side?’ and ‘Prayer Pearls’, works that give them the freedom to think about their identity and where they draw theirs from.

What is the one thing that Okello hopes the audience will take away from this show?
“The Journey.”

The Nairobi art scene has become vibrant again. Sculptors, pencil artists, painters and photographers are back to creating and displaying pieces in galleries.

This was not the case in March. The pandemic affected the culture and arts industry. Galleries closed. Concerts and exhibitions were put on hold. Creatives then took up spaces digitally.

Picha Images presented the first virtual photo and art exhibition titled “Africa Covid Exhibition”. Installation artist Wambui Kamiru Collymore hosted #ArtistConversations on her Instagram page. Several art competitions were held.

Presently, physical exhibitions are now opening.

Recent exhibitions were Camille Wekesa’s “Lattice” at Red Hill Art Gallery. Michael Musyoka’s “Time and Other Constructs” at One Off Contemporary Gallery. Michael Soi and Thom Ogonga’s “Sex and the City IV” at Alliance Francaise. A pop -up exhibition at Village Market.

There are more this weekend. Here are some of the shows we can catch up on this weekend.

Boniface Maina: ‘Waiting, Watching, Wishing’

• Where: Circle Art Gallery
• When: October 28 to November 18, 2020

Boniface’s body of work explores changes to everyday life. For instance, the paintings portray his characters in bondage, desolate and helpless situations. Some move about while others sit on the floor with ropes tied around their bodies.

Paul Kariuki Munene: ’10|20|30′

• Where: Alliance Francaise
• When: October 8 to October 31, 2020

Paul has been documenting the live music scene in the past decade. Here, he presents a collection of 30 black and white photos of performances.

Some of the musicians captured are Achieng’ Abura, Juma Tutu, Makadem, Sauti Sol and Karun.

‘Then and Now‘

• Where: One Off Contemporary Gallery
• When: October 31 to Novermber 22, 2020

This group exhibition features 18 artists and it opens this Saturday.

The artists are Peter Ngugi, James Mbuthia, Simon Muriithi, Sophie Walbeoffe, Richard Kimathi, Bertiers, Camille Wekesa, Anthony Okello, Kyalo Justus, Mary Collis, Beatrice Wanjiku, Thom Ogonga, Peterson Kamwathi, Xavier Verhoest, Mandy Bonnell, Timothy Brooke, Syowia Kyambi and Patrick Mukabi.

Affordable Art Show

• Where: Nairobi National Museum
• When: October 30 to November 1, 2020

More than 125 pieces are on sale at this annual art display. You would be required to make an appointment for today’s visit or walk in any time without one during the weekend.

The Kenya Museum Society organized the event and the proceeds will go towards supporting the National Museums of Kenya.

Michael Soi: ‘No Country for Black Folk’

• Where: Montague Contemporary, New York
• When: October 16 to November 6, 2020

He explores different subjects such as racial injustices, xenophobia, economic disparity and corruption.

While this exhibition is physically displayed in another part of the world, you can see it online here https://www.artsy.net/show/montague-contemporary-michael-soi-no-country-for-black-folk

We wish you a fulfilling weekend!

The Alliance Francaise in Nairobi is resuming monthly exhibitions in its art gallery after four months. And “Wheels of Life” art exhibition by Evans Ngure sets this in motion.

The exhibition which opened on July 6 and ends on July 31, is a reflection of life experiences. Evans recycles brass wheels, brass wire, wine corks, drift wood, metal irons, kettles, side mirror casing, belt buckles and many other found materials. This he does to form shapes of animals as well as share his views on the present day-to-day life and the memories of his past.

One of the rewards of upcycling, the technique of recycling found objects and repurposed to create new artworks, is that it preserves the environment. Objects that would otherwise be considered trash are assembled together to become a treasure.

Evans explored this concept too in the messages in some of his artworks such as “Monkey Revolt” through which he speaks against human encroachment into wild habitats. This has been a huge concern.

Some of his other works are functional as seen above. This lantern has a bulb inside and it is connected to a socket to produce electricity.

“Functional art is a great way to share my work at an affordable cost while creating something which can be used at home,” Evans explains.

If you would like to go to visit the gallery, in person visits are allowed. Measures such as sanitizing, wearing of masks and physical distancing are practiced.

Here are a number of the pieces of this exhibition.

If you have ever wanted to experience an art exhibition but for one reason or another that is yet to happen, then that has been made possible from wherever you are. You can now get lost in exhibitions from around the world.

And the first art and photo virtual exhibition to be witnessed in Africa during the Covid-19 pandemic is taking place now. Visual artists and photographers are documenting the current times surrounding Covid-19 for the digital exhibition. Picha Images are the organizers of the exhibition.

Since most art galleries are closed from the public at these times, the creative industry is sharing more of their work online. More people are now able to interact with art, whether that is in live concerts, song releases, and now an art exhibition.

We share some of the images that are compiled by Picha Images for Africa Covid Exhibition. You could check the many others using the hashtag #africacovidexhibition and on their website africacovidexhibition.com

Visual artists and photographers can continue to submit their works on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram before June 6 using the hashtag.

The piece above by Samod Wilson from the US explores the desire of children to go and play outside as they would normally do before the pandemic hit.

It is a reality for many parents now who are trying to explain to their children why they should stay inside the house. Children may also not be fully aware of the situation. And they seek answers from parents who are not certain when it is safe for them to go outside.

If you have ever stepped outside your home even once or watched the news, you have certainly see some people wearing their masks wrong.

There have been concerns that wearing masks for a prolonged period of time can have other effects especially for children and anyone who has breathing problems. That aside, celebrated painter Kenyan painter Michael Soi expresses his worry for those who can wear masks but choose to do so wrongly to be cool.

By now you must have known that masks prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Kenyan illustrator known by the single name Machira explores parts of the fashion, identity and culture of the African people. The lady is seen wearing an African print mask and African jewelry.

Many people in Kenya are going for masks that are in full African colours and fabrics.

This is a mural art by artists from Mombasa. Tito Onodera, Teddy Shakes, Moha Freeman, Mchula Art, Nuru, Shee and Dankiz took to a wall in Mombasa to celebrate the healthcare workers.

They have been at the forefront in fighting the pandemic. They risk their lives while saving those of others. They continue to spend days and nights taking care of patients.

The world has seen a new normal. There has been lockdowns, companies adopting work-from-home lifestyle, increased online shopping, and so on. In one way or another we have all had to adjust.

Peter’s artwork smartly expresses that the best thing we can do for those we love is by following the directives put in place by the government. Wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, sanitizing and washing hands show that we care for ourselves and for others.

“Awareness in most informal settlement areas is still a great challenge. But two Kenyan organizations (Art 360 degrees and Foundation of hope) came together to craft public awareness on the Covid-19 pandemic with murals,” explained Africa Covid Exhibition on their page.