Kibera artists wow Sarova Art Festival premiere gallery

Artist Alphonce Odhiambo, Chester Nyamosi, art curator Lisa Christaffersen and Joseph Baraka during the opening of an art festival at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi on May 25, 2018. The festival seeks to support the Kibera Art Centre. PHOTO | KANYIRI WAHITO

What you need to know:

  • The art festival will run for a week and will showcase work from 10 different artistes.
  • Three boys from Kibera slums are exhibiting their work during the first Sarova Art Festival.

Three young boys from the sprawling Kibera slums landed in what they described as an eye-opener and a first, exhibiting their work during the first Sarova Art Festival. The exhibit is curated by Lisa Christoffersen in conjunction with Sarova Hotel.

It saw her pick Chesta Nyamosi, Alphonce Odhiambo and Joseph Baraka from Kibera Art Centre to showcase their work.

Ms Christoffersen told ActScene that she picked the three because she liked their work and their commitment to what they were doing. “There were many artists at the center but the three caught my eye and, as you can see, Nyamosi’s piece was the first one to be bought.”

FESTIVAL

The art festival will run for a week and will showcase work from 10 different artistes including Alexis de Villar, Chris Dei, John Silver, Mary Collis David Marrian, Anthony Russell and Alexandra Spyratos.

An excited Nyamosi said that it was an honour to be picked and to have his work exhibited, because it has always been his dream since he was young. The self-taught 20-year-old prefers to paint art that portrays the African culture.

“Since I was in primary school, I always loved painting and I never thought it would one day be paying for my school fees,” he said.

Joseph Baraka also echoed his sentiments adding that his interests started while also in primary school and he only took it serious when he turned 15. “One day I put my art on Facebook and people started buying them and the money I got I managed to pay my school fees.”

He has exhibited his work in the Museum of Kenya, Kuona Trust, among other places and wants people to know that despite what they think of Kibera there is undiscovered talent.

“I have no desire to ‘escape’ Kibera or so-called slum life, I’d rather thrive on the ad hoc energy that I feel every day of living, and creating art that reflects the dignity.”

ART

They said that though they do not have offices, they are happy to have a place where they can go every day and do their work. They all work at Human Needs Project (HNP) where they are able to obtain the skills, information and credit they need to create opportunity for themselves.

NHP gives them and others access to the right combination of services; anyone who is motivated can work to better their own lives and provide a sustainable future for their families.

Sarova Hotels Managing Director, Jimi Kariuki, said the company was keen in supporting the growth and development of art, and the festival was a step towards achieving this.

“The young artists from the Kibera Art Centre have demonstrated that all it takes is passion and enthusiasm if you are to achieve your dreams; and Sarova Hotels is happy to be playing a part to support such young talent.”

Ms Christoffersen said that five per cent of the sales from the festival will go towards the Kibera Art Centre.