Water's Edge-'Kando ya Maji' with Nicholas Calvin

By Sanaa & Culture

The Struggle by Nicholas Calvin-photo print
on canvas as seen at the artist's exhibition
'water's edge' at Oasis in DSM

Being a photographer today is more competitive than a couple decades back. What with the camera being a device many have access to, be it for selfies or like me to attach more evidence to written works. Well as it goes still they're brave souls who are attached to this craft; such that when they display their works you know they qualify to be called ‘photographers’.

There’s a rising star with such qualifications and his name is Nicholas Calvin, recently on the 13th of May this year. He launched his solo exhibition titled ‘Water’s Edge’ at Oasis Restaurant in Masaki Dar es Salaam.

Wafting through the works, I was lulled by the symmetry in black and white of all the pieces, these were prints on canvas. So the gloss of photo’s was minimized however the subjects didn’t lull me rather they beckoned me to stop.

Reading the brochure I understood more my reaction ‘Water’s Edge’ explores dance and ocean as a metaphor…The Ocean’s edge marks a border to the mystery of the sea: the place we can’t naturally survive.’And so it goes the works explain that attempt we all have when we wake up to the day, in gorging how we best represent our presence. So we can be heard attain our keep with dignity so to speak.

Water Gliding by Nicholas Calvin-photo print on canvas

Some of my favorite of the exhibition include ‘A Dream’. A haunting photo it works well with focus and blur tying it well with its title 'dream'. Here we see this boy or young man rather sleeping by the beach. Sand on his face in the distance in a bit of a blur are figures of boys standing strong, in the water further and further afield the ocean.

Miss Cece (left) and Annette (right) gazing at a work from
"Water's Edge by Nicholas Calvin in Oasis Restaurant 

The other one I loved was ‘the struggle’ capturing a young man in a rigorous splash in the ocean. From the subjects expression to the way water is made to look harsh with the black and white hues; all render the message ‘struggle’ to precision.

At the exhibition there was as well a short silent film where we learned that the subjects in the works were dancers who as well in this short film. Go to demonstrate a contemporary dance piece with the sentiments of the photographs of 'water's edge'..

A Dream by Nicholas Calvin-photo print on canvas

Nicholas was humbled by the crowd present on his debut solo exhibition and as a token of appreciation gave us post cards of his other works; I have mine on my office window right close. He’s a talent to watch out for and MKEKA wishes him all the best in his endeavors.

You can still find his works which were relatively affordable ranging from 120-170 USD at Oasis Restaurant in Masaki Dar es Salaam. Contact him via info@nafasiartspace.org

Water's Edge by Nicholas Calvin
-photo print on canvas

Imitation (first left) by Nicholas Calvin

Nicholas Calvin (right) giving his thank you speech at the launch
of his debut solo exhibition, Nuru Mosha (middle)
as management of Oasis was there for support as well
Jan Van Esch (Left) the Director of Nafasi who
were part of the sponsors for this exhibit. 

A short silent film by Nicholas Calvin titledb 'Water's Edge'
complementing the photo exhibit at Oasis Restaurant
in Masaki, DSM recentl