Book Launch & Photo Exhibition: Everyday Africa, May 10-28 2017 @ Alliance Française

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Opening: May 10, 2017
Venue: Alliance Française
Time: 6.30 pm

Until: May 28, 2017

EVERYDAY AFRICA
Everyday Africa is a collective of 30 photographers sharing images of daily life (in many forms and from across the continent) on a shared Instagram feed in an effort to transcend the usual clichés that depict Africa as a place of only poverty, disease, and war. The project began in 2012 and has since sparked a global movement – there are dozens of “Everyday” projects focused on broadening our understanding of cities, countries, regions, and continents worldwide.

This exhibition is organized on the occasion of the African Launch of their new book ‘Everyday Africa: 30 Photographers Re-Picturing a Continent’.

At the launch, a theatrical performance will bring to life this social media project, using the comments and conversations sparked by the photography on Instagram as source for the script.

The featured photographers are: Nana Kofi Acquah, Jana Asenbrennerová, Girma Berta, Guillaume Bonn, Barry Christianson, Daouda Corera, Peter DiCampo, Edward Echwalu, Laura El-Tantawy, Yagazie Emezi, Andrew Esiebo, Malin Fezehai, Glenna Gordon, Jane Hahn, Idil Ibrahim, Mahmoud Khattab, Lindsay Mackenzie, Austin Merrill, Holly Pickett, Whitney Richardson, Christina Rizk, Tom Saater, Sameer Satchu, Allison Shelley, Charlie Shoemaker, Ricci Shryock, Nichole Sobecki, Sara Terry, Ley Uwera, Shannon Jensen Wedgwoodstage.

Exhibition: Black Tie Affair by Anthony Okello, Apr. 29 – May 23 2017 @ One Off Contemporary

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Opening: Saturday, 29 April 2017
Venue: One Off Contemporary

Exhibition Ends: 23 May 2017

About the Exhibition
Born in 1976 in Kenya, Okello studied art at the Buru Buru Institute of Fine Art and then went on to work at his chosen profession as a resident at the Kuona Trust in 2004.

Success came early with his allegorical works being bought by major collectors Robert Loder and Robert Devereux. These pieces depicted various mythologies from both the Luo and Kikuyu tribes, using animals as the central characters. The highly acclaimed ‘Masquerade series’ followed. Two works from that series sold for considerable sums both at the Bonhams Art Auction in London and the Circle Art Auction at home.

In addition to exhibitions in Kenya, India and France, Okello has exhibited in ‘Pop up Africa – One Off Gallery, Kenya’ at the Gallery of African Art in Cork Street, London in 2014.

​This February his work was on show at the Heong Gallery, at Downing College, Cambridge in a group show of some of Robert Devereux’s collection titled ‘When the heavens meet the earth’. As Okellos star rises, he does indeed look to be fulfilling the prophesy of being one of the most important artists of his generation.

Robert Devereux says that whilst his ‘work appears quite traditional, he is in fact a deeply conceptual artist’ who ‘has a fierce but quiet passion for his vocation and has managed to remain uncompromisingly himself, despite the influence of the western hegemony.’

http://www.oneoffafrica.com/anthony-okello-black-tie-affair-exhibition.html

Exhibition: Aftermath and Aftermath by Lincoln Mwangi & Peteros Ndunde, Apr. 28 – May 12 2017 @ Kuona Trust

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Opening Date: 28th April 2017, 6 pm
Venue: Kuona Trust Art Gallery

Exhibition Dates: 29th April – 12th May 2017
Entry: Free

About
Presence of warfare leaves behind trails. Trails of destruction and despair, as well as those of prosperity. Aftermath and Aftermath examines these conflicting outcomes and the greys of psychological and emotional war, in line with an individual’s path to self-discovery. This is an aspect that weighs in heavily on an individual’s way of life.

The exploration of warfare’s aftermath done through observing individuals’ psychological and emotional trails, as well as their introspection to clearly bring out the effects of the conflict. Be it internal or with other people. This has brought out a sense of mental and emotional confinement as a point of interest. Since an individual’s direction of self-discovery comes with choices. Things to be left behind, things to be picked up. The conflict arises and turmoil unravels thus the aftermath. A grey area that one feels progression from is needed.

Exhibition: Transitions by Boniface Maina, Apr. 23 – Jun. 30 2017 @ Nairobi Gallery

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Opening: April 23, 2017
Venue: Nairobi Gallery
Time: 12 pm

Dates: Until June 30, 2017
Time: 8.30 am – 5.30 pm
Entry: Museum Rates Apply

About
Boniface Maina represents a new breed of promising young contemporary artists in Nairobi. He has exhibited widely in East Africa and internationally. He has co-founded a cooperative of young artists in Nairobi known as Brush Tu Art Studio.

Born in 1987 at Nanyuki, Kenya, Boniface studied at the YMCA Training Institute, graduating with a diploma in art and design in 2008. He works primarily with acrylics on canvas and inks on paper. He is inspired by human reactions, personal experiences, dreams and daily encounters which he illustrates through his surrealist scenes and figures.

Thus, he is part of a new generation of artists who are finding fame and fortune both at home and abroad through a combination of training, exposure and inner reflection based on their unique perspective in present day Kenya. This is both a continuum and a departure from the “Pioneer Artists” of East Africa who have been exhibiting works at the Pioneer Gallery of the Old PCS Office for the past several years.

These artists commenced their careers at the time of Kenyan independence or shortly thereafter, against all odds, as art was not considered a priority at that time. The Pioneer artists based their works primarily on tradition, yet they have opened paths and set stages for those who follow, such as Magdalene Odundo, the first Kenyan to receive the Order of the British Empire from the Queen of England for her brilliant ceramic works (she is now installing mammoth tableaus of glass in various parts of the world).

TRANSITIONS is the title for a series of exhibitions which seek out and promote a younger generations of artists like Boniface Maina. Maina will premiere a new series of works, debuting his “new” style, which will be a marked departure from what his fans have been accustomed to in the past. Maina’s works have been published in a book, Masters of Contemporary Art Volume I, by Art Galaxie, an organization that serves to promote and disseminate the artwork of contemporary artists.

Boniface has had numerous solo and joint exhibitions including the Kenya Art Fair, the Kenya National Theatre, Alliance Francaise, the Italian Institute of Culture, the UNHCR, the Circle Art Gallery – Lamu exhibitions, and the Nairobi National Museum. He has also exhibited through the Danish and Russian Embassy residences and at Glocal Art Gallery, Denmark.

Exhibition: HOPE – A Story of Courage & Sacrifice with paintings by Yegonizer, Apr. 13 – May 30 2017 @ Nairobi National Museum

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HOPE: A Story of Courage & Sacrifice with paintings by EVANS YEGON Popularly known as Yegonizer

Opening Reception: Thursday, April 13, 2017
Venue: Creativity Gallery, Nairobi National Museum
Time: 10 am
Free Entry

Exhibition continues to May 30, 2017
Daily 8.30am to 5.30pm
Normal rates will apply

About
This Easter, we are going back in time, way back in time! 2,000 years ago to be precise. Join us at the Nairobi National Museum for an eye opening exhibition on the story of Easter. The exhibition opens on the 13th of April till end of May. There will be fun family activities on the 15th and 16th of April.

This fascinating story is told using a series of paintings by Evans Yegon and a collection of objects associated with Easter.

Evans Yegon, pseudonym Yegonizer, was born in Bomet Kenya in 1985. He studied fine art at Buruburu Institute of Fine Art (BIFA) and turned professional in 2008. Yegonizer is associated with Ivuka Art Centre Kigali and has exhibited his work extensively locally and internationally. His themes are mainly landscapes, portraits and religious art. He is currently based at the GoDown art centre.

Working in acrylics on canvas Yegonizer’s narratives are enigmatic and intense. The remarkably contemporary abstract realism he applies generates a compelling and daring effect. Working his backgrounds in seemingly random strokes, Yegonizer’s riotous disorder is a really thrilling way of making a realistic artwork additionally abstract.

The combination of Yegnoizer’s dominant paintings with the solemn objects of Christian reverence displayed in this exhibition creates a contrasting atmosphere of outward freedom and inward reflection.

This exhibition is not intended to convert the museum gallery to a religious shrine but rather to celebrate the season of Easter and provide museum visitors with an opportunity to enjoy beautiful art while learning about the origin of Easter and its relevance to Christians today.