By Caroline Uliwa
In Tanzania covid-19 isn’t in our national headlines the way we’re dealing with it is considered by many worldwide as irresponsible. Yet as a resident culture journalist with a lifelong asthma frailty, I’ve been living vicariously with the deadly virus (using herbal remedies & exercise) in the country’s most populated city, Dar es Salaam & like the clear majority of my city folk I’m still strong.
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| Akiko Konada's largest painting in this exhbition 'Pamoja' |
I wager thus if scientists truly investigated ‘if herd
immunity against covid-19 is working in Tanzania’ they could find surprising
results. This trail of thought is well investigated by the art exhibition that
ran in Feb at Alliance Francais grounds in Dar; particularly in its execution. “From
this global health crisis that we still face, we learn to go back to the
basics, that it is important we remain united between families, friends and
colleagues.”Akiko Konada (Japanese Fine Artist) shares on the mission statement
for the residency she headed at the Alliance grounds for this exhibition titled
‘Pamoja’.
Let it be said the Alliance Francais offices in Dar
have strict protocols on prevention from covid-19. At the gate a poster tells
you ‘…mask is recommended’, the guard will immediately show you to a bucket
where you can wash your hands.
Akiko has great skill with charcoal painting and is a graduate of Kanazawa College of Art in Ishikawa, Japan. Being an art school teacher for several years meant she was just the right person to mentor ten artists (8 painters 2 dancers) from Tanzania in a residency that procured 16 professional paintings and several charcoal still drawings in just two weeks!
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| A painting by Salum Kambi in his unique style showcased at this 'Pamoja' exhbition |
The methodology Akiko employed of using
afro-contemporary dancers Pili Hassani & Ulonzi R.Almasi to perform solely for
the painters:- Albano Slyvester, Ally Kilua, Barnabas Mnamba, Jennifer Msekwa,
Magreth Liwembe, Jabar J. Mwarabi, Hedwiga M. Tairo and Salum Kambi. Where they
had to capture their movement eternally with charcoal on white canvas, was
indeed an intelligent form of still life drawing. Although the painters had varying
experiences with some like salum kambi coming with strong resumes spanning over
15 years and others with less than six years on the craft; this exercise united
them.
As to the other artworks the painters produced, Akiko
required they answer this “At first, the covid-19, pandemic was not expected to
last long, that things would resume as usual…it turned out more serious than we
expected causing tremendous impact on health and economic activities
worldwide.” That they capture the impact of covid-19 in their everyday lives,
now even though Tanzania since May 2020 officially declined to implement strict
lockdown protocols for its citizens against corona; it’s still true that the virus
has impacted its citizens in various ways adversely.
Going through the exhibition you wouldn’t be alone if
you find it amusing, that an exhibition investigating how to capture ‘togetherness’
during corona in Tanzania, has no Tanzanian artist showcasing anyone wearing a
mask. It’s these themes of: - economic empowerment, gender equity, animal
poaching, children rights, the disabled rights, mental health & authentic
African cultural evolution; that ooze as the artists’ response. On the real
challenges they see their citizens facing in finding their ‘pamoja’ during this
pandemic.
Personally I was really drawn to the largest painting
by Akiko in this exhibition, rendering an impressionist style with acrylic no
less (it dries quicker making smudges more difficult). The subject has this
abstract Maasai man in a blue ‘rubega’ sitting under a frangipani tree, the
soul of this piece is palpable as something haunts yet soothes in its aura.
Another artwork that stands out in this exhibition is
‘Children play on the Road’ by Ally Kilua. The subjects being children playing
but against a rosy abstract purple, lilac and all matter of yummy sky/earth.
Looking at the kids, one with our iconic revolving single bicycle tire, the
painting can pull your heartstrings. As you notice the kids humble surroundings
yet enduring spirit in their quest to play.
The paintings were a little pricey in my opinion ranging from 150,000tshs-2,000,000Tshs but a few are a sure investment. To know if pieces are still available you can contact them here afdar contact
n.b. this article was first published in The East African newspaper with this link https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/magazine/painters-capture-impact-of-coronavirus-in-their-lives-3303432
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