Date: July 22, 2017
Venue: Zen Gardens
Time: from 2 pm
Tickets: Standard KES 2,500 and VIP 12,000
Exhibition: Discriminative: A Guide to Kenyan People, Jul. 20 -31 2017 @ Kuona Trust
Opening: July 20, 2017
Venue: Kuona Trust
Time: 6-8 pm
Until: July 31, 2017
Photo Exhibition: Shades of Benga – The Story of Popular Music in Kenya, Jul. 12-29 2017 @ Alliance Française
Dates: July 12-29, 2017
Venue: Alliance Française, Ground Floor
Exhibition: Proximity to Power, Jul. 12 – Aug. 12 2017 @ Circle Art Gallery
Opening: July 12, 2017
Venue: Circle Art Gallery
Time: 6.00 pm
Exhibition: Until August 12, 2017
Participating Artists: Nicholas Odhiambo, Longinos Nagila, Onyis Martin, Lemek Tompoika and Peterson Kamwathi
Curated by Thom Ogonga
Book Launch and Photo Exhibition: Shades of Benga – The Story of Popular Music in Kenya, Jul. 12 2017 @ Alliance Française
Date: July 12, 2017
Venue: Alliance Française
Time: 6.30 pm
About
Ketebul Music and the Alliance Française invite you to the launch of the historic book ‘Shades of Benga’ – the story of popular music in Kenya, from the 1940s to the present – produced by Ketebul Music, on Wed. 12th July at 6.30pm.A unique occasion to discover the foundations of modern Kenyan music and look at external influences that helped shape new music styles.
Kenya’s popular music traces its origins to the end of the Second World War. The returning soldiers who had fought in India and Burma brought back home novel instruments that would shape the modern Kenyan sound; the accordion and the acoustic guitar.
A photo exhibition, featuring rare photos sourced from private collections, will take some on a nostalgic journey to the pioneering days of Kenyan music and others on an inspiring journey of discovery.
Combining historical facts and anecdotes, Tabu Osusa (founder of Ketebul Muisc and veteran musician and producer) together with Bill Odidi (radio producer and consultant on media and cultural memory projects) will give you invaluable insights into the music and the music icons that have captured the imagination of Kenyans for six decades.
A DJ on a vinyl turntable will have you moving to old classics in the presence of the pioneering musicians John Nzenze and Peter Akwabi.
Exhibition: Theresa Musoke – Legendary Artist of Uganda, Jul. 8 – Oct. 1 2017 @ The Nairobi Gallery
Venue: The Nairobi Galley
Entry: Free
Until: October 1, 2017
Museum Rates Apply after July 8th 2017
About
Born in Kampala in 1942, at a time when few African women, let alone Ugandan women, were going to University, Teresa Musoke completed studies at Makerere University Department of Fine Arts, the best art school in East Africa at that time. She began receiving recognition while still an undergraduate with prestigious commissions like her famous “Birth Mural” at Makerere University Mary Stuart Hall, the National Parks of Kenya, and Entebbe International Airport. After graduation, Musoke received a Commonwealth scholarship to do printing in the UK where she earned a postgraduate diploma in printing from the Royal College of Art in London. She then took up residence in Kenya for the next 20 years where she exhibited at local galleries such as Paa ya Paa, Gallery Watatu and African Heritage. She held several exhibitions abroad, particularly in the Scandinavian countries where her distinguished works of romanticized wildlife in a moody mixture of abstract batik and oil painting won great acclaim. She taught art at Makerere University, Kenyatta university College, the International School of Kenya and several other venues.In the process Musoke has been acknowledged as one of Africa’s leading women artists and has won many awards. Selected exhibits abroad include the Royal Academy of Art in London, The Hampton Institute in Virginia, USA, Botanic Museum in Brussels Belgium, and Africus-Johannesburg-Biennale, South Africa.
Exhibition: Utopia by Longinos Nagila, Jul. 7-23 2017 @ Simba Corp Apire Centre – Waiyaki Way
Opening: July 7, 2017
Venue: Simba Corp Apire Centre, Waiyaki Way
Time: 6-8 pm
Until: July 23, 2017
About
It’s horrible when people are only interested in buying labels, because it doesn’t bring them the happiness they think it will. – Miuccia Prada (Italian Fashion Designer)Luxury is a state of mind. – L’Wren Scott (American Fashion Designer)
In this conceptual installation, Longinos Nagila looks at the relationship between the buyer and seller who consume luxury goods.
Nagila uses the conversation surrounding migrants to Europe and the fake goods they sell, specifically on the streets of Italy, to people who yearn for an impression that they can’t afford.
His work explores the idea of a “new utopia,” a better world based on what luxury goods promise. This may be employment for the migrants who sell fake bags, or the impression of wealth/ status to the buyer of this fake luxury good.
Both buyer and seller are in search of this bigger dream at whatever cost and both buyer and seller are in some way linked, part slave – part dreamer to the life of fake “luxury.” This alternative utopia is played out on the open street where both dreamers are equalised and at the same time where their vulnerabilities are exposed. The seller is in constant fear of being arrested by the police and the buyer is in constant fear of being spotted buying a fake “luxury” good.
Nagila taps into his past as a construction worker and a rural – urban migrant (Busia to Nairobi) who eventually travelled and lived in Italy.
The exhibition is the most extensive of his work and features sculptural pieces, video art and paintings.
‘Nalini’ Pop-up Exhibition, Jul. 4-10 2017 @ Kuona Art Gallery
Opening: Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Venue: Kuona Art Gallery
Time: 2 pm
Entry: Free and open to all
Until: July 10, 2017
About
Our outgoing resident artist, Arpita Shah will tomorrow unveil what she has ducpro on in a pop-up exhibition expected to run until 10th July 2017.In the exhibition, Arpita will showcase her work-in-progress, from the series ‘Nalini’ which is supported by Creative Scotland. ‘Nalini’ is a long-term photo-based project that centres on Shah’s maternal lineage and is being developed across India, Kenya and UK.
About the artist
Arpita Shah is a visual artist and arts community facilitator based in Scotland, UK. She works between photography and film, exploring themes around culture and identity. Arpita has completed residencies at Street Level Photoworks, Ankur Arts and Tramway, Scotland.She was commissioned by Creative Scotland to develop new work for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and exhibits internationally, most recently in India, France and the USA.
You can read more and see her works in her website.
Exhibition: Artists Against Extinction, Jun. 29 – Jul. 23 2017 @ The Polka Dot Art Gallery
An exhibition of paintings and photography by a collection on Kenya’s top artists
Launch of Artists Against Extinction Exhibition
Date & Time: Thursday, June 29, 2017 from 6.30 pm
Venue: The Polka Dot Art Gallery
Location: The Souk, Dagoretti Rd, Karen
Exhibition is on until: July 23, 2017
About
Founded by Karen Laurence-Rowe, Artists Against Extinction is a group of artists who are trying to help stem this frightening trend in a powerful way… through their art! The artist’s chosen are all experts in their genre and the work in the gallery is extraordinary! Every artwork sold from the site will generate 20% to a conservation charity of the artists choice.So a sale here actually helps preserve various species!
Exhibition: On the Outside Looking In by Richard Kimathi, Jun. 24 – Jul. 25 2017 @ One Off Contemporary Gallery
Opening: June 24, 2017
Venue: One Off Contemporary Art Gallery
Time: noon – 5 pm
Open Until July 25, 2017
About
Richard Kimathi along with four other Kenyans are representing their country at the Venice Biennale. One Off Gallery is enormously proud to host a show of Richard’s latest work in Kenya from 24th June, titled ‘On the outside looking in’. Always experimenting and pushing the envelope, in this series Kimathi uses metal as his painting surface. And as ever, he explores the emotionally charged political climate surrounding us.