When I wrote my first post on Rwandan art more than six months ago, I didn’t think that art would take a lasting place in my life. The truth is, after my initial encounters with extraordinary artworks of local Rwandan self-thought artists and artisans, not a single week has passed without art! It has not just settled in my everyday life but has taken me on a wonderful journey opening new windows to the world on this magical continent.
Artist: Sam Kambari
It all started with Inema Arts Gallery, which is one of my favorite places in Kigali. After the first visit, my kids signed up to an art class with Kenneth – one of Inema’s artists, and a very special friend of mine. Although the art class was originally meant to be for kids, I couldn’t help but joining in 🙂
It was such fun to paint among a bunch of smudgy small kids, their clothes, arms and legs covered with fresh acrylic colors. And this is why we liked Kenneth from the beginning – he doesn’t tell people what and how exactly to paint (“…now mix up this and that color and paint this thing here that way…”) No. Instead, he let his art pupils use their own imagination and experiment, staying ready to help, if anyone seeks for advice. Some parents would argue that this is not really teaching but I firmly believe that this is the best approach, especially when teaching younger kids or beginner adults. If the child or adult has enough self-motivation, they can always take their learning further in a more systematic or academic way.
Despite my expectations, the initial beginner-enthusiasm for painting hasn’t diminished with the time. On the contrary, with every new painting project, I want to experiment more with the colors, and recently even with kitenge-fabrics on the canvas. Maybe one day I will share my paintings with the world even though this has never been my goal. Painting for me is probably like meditation for other people: a means of synchronizing my mind, body and soul. I’ve never done meditation but I guess this is what people want to get out of it.
After several sessions, I decided to leave the kids class and just use any opportunity to paint that opens up, be it at Inema or at home. Although painting at home gives me more flexibility, Inema Arts almost always is my preferred place to go.
The painting in the far left corner is made by Kenneth Nkusi
I will never forget one afternoon in November when it suddenly started pouring and I had to quickly hide under the corrugated roof at Inema’s back yard. The rain turned this so artistic and messy corner into a beautiful, peaceful place. Art could be smelled even in the rain drops…
This moment had to be captured!
With Kenneth (on the left) and Innocent
Since I mentioned Innocent (one of the founders of Inema Arts Center) I can’t go without saying a word or two about his latest art initiative “Illusions”. This was an absolutely unconventional fashion show! One that you would not get to see in Milan, Paris or New York… It was different and daring. It was just authentic!
The combination of materials, colors and accessories was fantastic; though, I was not less impressed by the models who wore these fashion-art pieces, their faces and body posture radiating pride and elegance.
Looking closely at the details of the clothing and accessories I could tell that Innocent has put his heart and soul into his artwork which the model were now genuinely passing on to the audience.
Even their shoes were carefully selected, just perfectly matching the crazy and innovative fashion style (with no intention for advertising these shoes, Native Shoes really caught my attention for everything this brand stand for – comfort, lightness, nature friendly and absolute design!). I am so glad to have had the opportunity to be there, just a meter away from the catwalk, visually absorbing the beauty around me…
The audience was not less attractive so I couldn’t help but taking a few pictures of their expressive faces:-)
Timothy Wandulu is another very inspirational self-taught visual artist from Rwanda. He is not only a unique artist but a great person as well. Wholehearted, broad-minded and always smiling.
Timothy Wandulu in front of some of his “Beauty Capsule” series paintings
When I first visited his art studio “Concept Arts” I immediately felt like home despite of his not so friendly dog in the front yard 🙂 When I arrived there, two things immediately caught my attention – the colorful painting of a smiling kid’s face on the corrugated iron gate and the colorful umbrellas hanging from the elevated patio roof.
Timothy’s creative art pieces and improvisations are all over the place – for example a jeans-holstered chair, a wooden guitar, a chair made of a bicycle seat and other seats made out of plastic jerry cans.
According to Timothy, who got his reputation for recyclable art, creating art pieces out of scrap, waste and litter, this is eco-friendly art. Besides the ready art works, the studio is also littered with disposed materials like scrap wood, motorcycle parts, plastic water bottles, kitenge clothes, wires etc.
Of course, all of this sparkled thousands of questions that I wanted to ask but I think that the below quote of Timothy (it comes from an interview with him) says it all:
“When my mind connects with the environment, it lights up my creativity. I’m trying to knock on people’s senses to have a sense of care for the environment”
Besides his extraordinary ecological artworks, Timothy Wandulu has brought out several series of themed paintings, “The Beauty Capsule” being my favorite one. The paintings from this series capture various picturesque scenes of the bustling Kigali streets and traffic.
Another remarkable series of artworks is designed to increase the awareness of breast cancer – portraits of smiling women and a framed section with women’s bras stitched on it. The message is conveyed in very simple and powerful way.
And then, when I was just about to leave his studio, Timothy got an interesting visitor – a local woman selling vegetables and fruits from a heavy bowl she wore on her head.
I didn’t understand their conversation but apparently Timothy was a loyal customer of her. This was a special moment for me, being able to get so close to the day-to-day life of Concept Arts Studio and his amazing owner.
After all, being surrounded by the genuine art creations of people like Kenneth, Innocent, Timothy and others, how could I possibly stay away from art?! 🙂
The End.
To read Part 1 of “Food for art lovers”, click here.