It’s raining art in Nairobi! Hallelujah ...

Kenyan artist Paul Onditi beside his artwork ‘Helter Skelter’ which sold for Sh493,080 at Circle Art Auction this year. With him is Ms Claudine Mathis-Herd, a collector of East African art. PHOTO | ZIHAN KASSAM |

What you need to know:

  • Featuring 51 artists from six different African countries, the heavily anticipated Circle Art Auction took place on November 3 and grossed over Sh18.7 million on the night, with 85% of the lots sold.
  • Whether it is a first-timer who simply falls in love with the attractive reds of Dawit Abebe’s ‘Background 4’, for example, or a collector who is aware that Abebe is a rising prodigy from Ethiopia who has exhibited at the Pangaea through Saatchi Gallery, works like his were sold at critically higher amounts than anticipated by Circle Art.
  • Sadly, during the selection process, an exquisite abstract by Anne Mwiti, whose style has progressed radically in the last few months and whose contribution was a work of high-art, did not make the cut.

When it rains, it pours. This old adage seems to bear some truth, going by what has lately been happening in the local art scene.

The Nairobi art scene, in particular, has never been as perceptible as it was this year. Just the minuscule duration between end of October and the beginning of November saw three mammoth size art affairs, superior to those that preceded them.

They were the Circle Art Auction 2014 held at the Kempinski Hotel; the Affordable Art Show at Nairobi National Museum and, the first ever Kenyan Art Fair organised by Kuona Trust Arts Centre at the Sarit Centre in Westlands.

Featuring 51 artists from six different African countries, the heavily anticipated Circle Art Auction took place on November 3 and grossed over Sh18.7 million on the night, with 85% of the lots sold.

With 57 lots in total, it offered 10 more art works than last year, which saw Sh18.5 million go under the hammer and 90 per cent of lots sold. Once again, the auction was led by reputable auctioneer Dendy Easton of Sotheby’s, Bonhams and the BBC Programme ‘Antiques Roadshow’.

HIGH CLIMATE

In the eager crowd were international visitors such as Robert Devereux - formerly of Virgin Empire, and local furniture designer Mark Rampelberg of the world-renowned Rampelberg Design.

Pulling in a large portion of artwork from the secondary market, Circle Art seems to be successfully reintroducing African artwork dating back to the 1970’s.

Lot 46 or ‘Girl’ for example, an enthralling acrylic portrait by Ugandan artist Eli Kyeyune, sold at Sh563,520, exceeding Circle Art’s high estimate by Sh160,000. This however was not an anomaly.

With 35 of 57 lots selling for higher than Circle Art’s estimates (which are based on current market research or conversations with the secondary market sellers), an unexpected and rather peculiar phenomenon has taken place in Kenya.

From dabbling spectators, elite businessmen, corporate heads and industrialists to established artists and the directors of art galleries, we see a combination of new, eager collectors.

Whether it is a first-timer who simply falls in love with the attractive reds of Dawit Abebe’s ‘Background 4’, for example, or a collector who is aware that Abebe is a rising prodigy from Ethiopia who has exhibited at the Pangaea through Saatchi Gallery, works like his were sold at critically higher amounts than anticipated by Circle Art.

This particular painting by Abebe (Lot 20) went for Sh704,400, radically higher than Circle Arts’s high estimate of Sh325,000.

Lot 36, an untitled wooden sculpture dubbed ‘the businessman,’ is a rare sculpture by internationally-renowned Tanzanian artist George Lilanga. The estimated price was Sh110,000 – Sh175,000 but it sold at Sh375,680.

It was also encouraging to see young Kenyan contemporary artists such as the esteemed Peterson Kamwathi’s tiny woodcut plate (untitled, Lot 42) from a private collection sell at Sh75,680 while rising star Gor Soudan sold his protest-wire sculpture ‘Bubbles & Shells 3’ (Lot 27) at Sh645,700. Both were bought at significantly higher prices than the estimates.

USUAL SUSPECTS

On its part, the Affordable Art Show, held at the Nairobi National Museum from October 24 to 26, featured over 400 artists, mostly Kenyans, with a handful from Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and Iran.

On display were the usual suspects: The everyday tourist charms by Patrick Kinuthia, lovely textured acyclic paintings by Samuel Githui, more amiable scenes of village life by renowned Zacharia Mbutha, Nubian iconography by Sudanese artist Yassir Ali from Kuona Trust, metal sculpture by Harisson Mburu and Alex Wainana and witty works by Maasai Mbili.

From the mass of artwork on display only a few stood out: An indistinct, untitled acrylic painting by Sudanese artist Fawaz El Said, featuring a dark, shadowy bull or cow with lovely use of negative space.

A competent painting ‘Western Influence‘ by Boniface Maina, executed in a mature palette, featuring a man being coerced to drink from the ‘West‘ - symbolic of taking on the ‘malevolent’ traits of the western world.

MAKE THE CUT

There were also two small, charming ink works on paper (untitled), by Iranian artist Maral Boulouri who is relatively new to Kuona Trust.

Both works were executed in a mellow palette of watery green and blue.

Sadly, during the selection process, an exquisite abstract by Anne Mwiti, whose style has progressed radically in the last few months and whose contribution was a work of high-art, did not make the cut.

Last but not least, the Kuona Trust Centre for Visual Arts in Kenya is holding their first ever Kenya Art Fair from November 6 to 9.

The four-day fair includes art talks and a cartoons competition, features independent artists, upcoming and established, as well as local galleries.

Sponsored by Nation Media Group and other big contributors, it features the top art centres, establishments and agency in the country; Circle Art Agency, Nairobi National Museum, GoDown Arts Centre, Pawa 254, Kitengela Glass, Kuona Trust themselves and more.

Integrated in to the fair will be the Wasanii exhibition, featuring over 200 artworks by artists from across the country.