First Lady at launch of ‘Visual Voices’ book on Kenyan artists

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and other participants during the launch of the book ‘Visual Voices’ by Susan Wakhungu-Githuku at Zen Gardens in Nairobi. PHOTO | THOMAS RAJULA

What you need to know:

  • Safaricom chief executive Bob Collymore wrote the foreword in the book and is an amateur artist who likes to paint on the Friday afternoons that he is away from the office.
  • He called art “the narration of our social experience” citing the multifaceted Leonardo da Vinci, who is best remembered for his art works, among other celebrated European artists. He said art is a critical expression as it brings both significance and purpose to the artist.
  • “It is our attempt to become creators; our lens on humanity. For artists, delivering on this vision can be an intensely intimidating personal journey,” said Mr Collymore.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta was chief guest among a list of prominent artists and art enthusiasts who attended the launch of the Visual Voices book at Zen Gardens.
The book was compiled by Susan Wakhungu-Githuku and was printed by Footprints Press Limited. Having initially thought it would take only a year, it ended up taking almost three years to compile.
Wakhungu-Githuku had discussed the idea with muralist Camilla Wekesa, who taught and introduced her to people knowledgeable in the arts. They told her that while the idea of the book was a good one, it wasn’t going to be easy, while encouraging her to go ahead with it. Some of the artists initially had apprehensions on whether to trust her.
The book presents a unique collection of eclectic artistic activity undertaken in Kenya since the 1970s by 57 artists including Richard Oyango, Ancient Soi, Boniface Maina, Wanyu Brush, Ciru Kariuki, and Fitsum Berhe, and many others.
“This book was informed by the dynamism that exists within the art scene in Kenya. There’s so much going on that is new, bold and unconstrained that good things must be shared,” said Mrs Wakhungu-Githuku.
She said that they couldn’t include all the artists that should have been included, but she hoped the book would start the conversation that will lead to many more books.
She stated that not all the artists profiled are necessarily the pick of the crop. Some are young and on the first round of their artistic journey, while others are national, regional or steadily growing global authorities. Some, like London-based but Kenyan-born Michael Armitage, have hardly exhibited here and people don’t know them, but will get to see their works in the book.
“In this ephemeral world, where everything moves so quickly and disappears like quicksand, books endure; we can pass them on from one generation to another,” she said, stressing on the importance of memory.
Former Vice-President and the patron of Footprints Press Limited Mr Moody Awori, while thanking the artists who had consented to having their work featured in the book, held that he was always in awe of artists. He gave special credence to works by Elimu Njau and Nolly Croos, who have been in the arts for decades.
Safaricom chief executive Bob Collymore wrote the foreword in the book and is an amateur artist who likes to paint on the Friday afternoons that he is away from the office. He called art “the narration of our social experience” citing the multifaceted Leonardo da Vinci, who is best remembered for his art works, among other celebrated European artists. He said art is a critical expression as it brings both significance and purpose to the artist.
“It is our attempt to become creators; our lens on humanity. For artists, delivering on this vision can be an intensely intimidating personal journey,” said Mr Collymore.
Mrs Kenyatta expressed her deep passion for the arts. An amateur artist, she said art is important to her as well because it helps her and the other artists communicate in ways that words cannot; seeing and appreciating what may have ordinarily been ignored.
She praised the book for presenting a unique style and technical skills of the artists and art inside it including paintings, sculptures, murals, photographs, furniture and glass work.
“Indeed, we can show off to the world the talent that abounds in Kenya. Susan’s book attests to the growing number of artists in Kenya; it allows us to control our own narrative,” said Mrs Kenyatta.
A copy of the book, autographed by all 57 artists featured in the book, and the First Lady, was later auctioned for Sh400,000. The book was bought by Abbas Gullet, secretary general of the Kenya Red Cross Society, and the proceeds will go to the East African Visual Arts Trust to help young and upcoming artists “get creative inspiration”.
Exploitation and protection of artists from middlemen and others who have sought to profit from their works was also mentioned by speakers, which is what the trust also looks to curb.