Prehistory and traditions
The origins of mankind can be discovered on the shores of Lake Turkana, at the archaeological site of Koobi Fora. The numerous objects presented in the museum of the "cradle of humanity", where Lucy lived, retrace the evolution of our most ancient ancestors. In this arid space, major discoveries have changed our knowledge of the daily life of the first representatives of the human species. Lake Turkana is a bit of an Eden for paleontologists. The first carved stone workshop of the world was brought to light on these banks. The site of Lokalalei revealed not less than 2 000 vestiges going back to 3 million years. Among these finds, knives which would be the oldest stone tools ever discovered.
To admire the parietal art, it is necessary to go to the site of Kwitone. There, paintings dated 18,000 years ago are spread out over about forty meters. Between the series of white and black spirals, glowing serpentines evoke the course of the sun, from sunrise to sunset. Attributed to the pygmies (Twa), these works remain for the natives endowed with supernatural powers. The Kenyan island of Mfangano, on Lake Victoria, is home to other Twa creations. The 40 sacred sites spread over the island have as their primary function to ensure the link between man and the divine. The Twa pictorial language is dominated by concentric circles and three colors: black, white and red
Straddling Kenya and Tanzania, the Maasai people have perpetuated the tradition of ornamentation for several hundred years. The history of the art of body adornment is still unknown. It manifests itself through objects that symbolize social status (ritual masks, jewelry, belts, etc.) or directly on the skin. Scarifications emphasize the beauty of a physical detail, such as the eyes. This "direct" or body art uses all the materials available in the environment. Let us remember that what we call African art includes objects that were not originally conceived as artistic creations. Even if a desire to produce a harmonious work animated the sculptor, the masks had above all a spiritual, social or political significance. Their function was to maintain the balance and survival of society
Outside the Nairobi National Museum, a bronze sculpture represents the evolution of the human species in four stages. Inside the museum, the place gives an account of all Kenyan peoples and their arts, presents prehistoric fossils, local fauna and flora. A must to get acquainted with Kenya.
From colonial art to the modern era
The encounter with the European settlers was not without consequences for the Kenyan pictorial tradition. In contact with the Portuguese, the sculpted portraits saw their features change. The nose became thinner and a beard was signified by rows of beads on certain sculptures. The beads usually used by the women to embellish elements of the adornment are now used as currency. The sculptors still do not sign their works, the collective taking precedence over the notion of the individual. In Mombasa, the Swahili culture born in the second century was enriched by the exchanges that were more frequent in the port city. However, the Swahili, having been Islamized very early on, did not use images. Geometric motifs are repeated. The Muslim heritage is however nuanced with African elements. This mixture can be seen in the Gedi Ruins Museum in Mombasa, which accompanies the 12th century village
It was not until the 1960s that the first Kenyan art galleries were established, at the time of Independence (1963)
On the coast, the first gallery was the Diani Beach Art Gallery, which presents an extremely diverse collection of African and Kenyan art. Photographs, sculptures and paintings offer a vast panorama of current creation. A special feature of Mombasa is the Sand Art Museum, which showcases a natural form of sculpture, sand sculpture. Before leaving the city, treat yourself to unique souvenirs at the Coast Gallery of Arts. Located along Nyali Links Road, it features paintings with handcrafted frames made of raw materials.
Emergence of the contemporary scene
Nairobi has established itself as the beating heart of Kenyan creativity for several decades. The capital city has become an anchor point for the continent's population fleeing conflict, and its cultural scene has been enriched by artists such as Sudanese artist Eltayeb Dawelbait, who left in search of a more favorable environment to express his talent. The 1960s saw the first Kenyan art galleries spring up in the center of the capital, close to hotels and retail outlets. One of the pioneers was the Paa Ya Paa Arts Gallery, which burned to the ground in 1997 before being reborn as a multi-disciplinary art venue. At the same time, the Watatu Gallery, under the leadership of Ruth Shaffner, became the first to promote contemporary art in Kenya by defending colorful scenes created by self-taught artists. Places such as the Nairobi Museum, the Village Market and the Maison Française followed. Later, the RaMoMa (Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art) stands out for its audacity, manifest in its collection of contemporary art.
A collaborative art
In this emerging scene, grouping together allows artists to exchange and learn techniques. The two most influential associations are the Ngecha Artists Association, named after the village of Ngecha, near Nairobi. At first, the whole population lends itself to the game and experiments with all artistic disciplines, from sculpture to pottery. The activity of the place declined around 2000, then moved to Banana Hill Studio, directed by the painter Shine Tani. Figurative art remains the main focus: joyful slices of rural life and scenes of poignant realism show various facets of Kenyan society. Joseph Cartoon, King Dodge and Meek Gichugu, among others, have exhibited their work abroad.
More recently, the Kuona Trust association, located in the Nairobi Museum, is focusing on the professionalization of visual artists. About thirty artists are being trained under the direction of Judy Ogana.Leaders
A stereotyped painting intended to satisfy tourists reigns on the market. It shows an idealized Africa, clichés without soul. Several personalities are pulling Kenyan painting away from this commercial style. The precursor of Kenyan painting was actually born in Uganda (in 1940). Jak Katarikawe, nicknamed the "Chagall of East Africa", began his career as a self-taught artist in the 1970s. His tender style uses pastel tones, blurred shapes, cows and chickens. His softening, increasingly hazy motifs brought him clearly closer to abstraction at the turn of the century. Katarikawé exhibited all over the world.
Sane Wadu, the second major figure in contemporary art, was born in Kenya in 1954. He is also a poet and writer and stands out for his eccentricity. At the beginning, he painted with watercolors on fabric or plastic plates, and represented the fauna and flora of his country. Later, he adopted oil on canvas to paint urban landscapes that gradually became more abstract in the 1990s. Sane Wadu is now an international artist
In a predominantly male art scene, a few women are pursuing a successful career. The oldest is Rosemary Karuga. Trained at the School of Fine Art at Makerere College, she won numerous awards and became a teacher. Rosemary skilfully switched from oil painting to collage to represent the daily life of her village or stories about animals
The second generation of artists is led by painter and video artist Justus Kyalo. Born in 1972, he practices several disciplines: photography, illustration, the world of fashion and publishing intersect in his approach. His large frescoes in homage to women, his sketches of dancers captured on the spot, his abstract, almost monochrome works painted on metal plates. In Nairobi, he exhibits at the Mam Gallery as well as at the Circle Art Gallery, which is the first exhibition space in this part of the continent. It is true that since 2013 it has been organizing the great annual sale of East African art. Over time, the event has allowed the Kenyan capital to rise to the level of cities as renowned as Cape Town or Lagos in the cultural landscape
Nowadays
The energy that drives Nairobi remains somewhat chaotic. But some of the young local talent draws its inspiration from this disorder.
Wisetwo, a pioneer of street art in Central and East Africa, has gone far beyond the country's borders. Exhibited for the first time in France, he travels the world, mixing in his colorful works African culture, rhythms, codes, symbology, mystical objects and rituals of the continent. Graffiti is having a great time in the streets of the capital. Here, artists have been serving the community since the 1970s. They are considered as a model for the younger ones. Associations like TICAH multiply collective initiatives to enhance the urban landscape. Daddo also paints everywhere, but preferably with other graffiti artists, such as Ibra, and in collaboration with the Sana'a Center, which defends access to medical care for all.
In the bustling Nairobi scene, artists of all disciplines meet at the GoDown Arts Centre and the Kuona Trust Art Centre in Nairobi. These exhibition spaces and workshops are major meeting places for emerging artists.
