LOOK: Amanda Steggel (left) and Henry Mziri at a digital art workshop

By Nathan Kiwere
While Uganda is not lacking in artists educated both locally and abroad, there is an immense lack of resources for artistic work that utilises digital tools. However, this obtrusive deficiency is about to become a thing of the past.
A contingent of seven Norwegian artists is in the country on a mission to demystify the concept of digital art. The group called Motherboard jetted in on the February 13, and has since been holding a work lab with over 15 local artists and musicians at the Afriart gallery, located at Lugogo UMA show ground, courtesy of Uganda Artists Association (UAA). Amanda Steggell and Per Platou jointly lead the non-profit organisation. The event code named Ultrahotwiredlveart 2004 workshop is the first one of its kind in Uganda and has ushered the participants into the new world of digital inspiration.
The project has introduced a new art form using a computer application called Musical instruments and Digital Interface (MiDi). It is basically an interaction of different art forms such as sounds, computer graphics etc to form a single piece. A digital note system on the computer connecting different machines in concert. The system was developed in the mid 1980s and is the only code language that has been developed for only artistic purposes. At a higher level it involves a technique known as video teleconferencing, a global network that connects participants from around the world in theatre art, while monitoring each other on the screen.
Motherboard came 17 mackintosh computers, a complete MiDi system (sufficient to set up a modern music recording studio), video cameras and an overhead projector. The good news is that these gadgets have been donated to the UAA, based at Nommo gallery, at Nakasero. The association is now going to set up a centre that according to Platou will become the hub of computer art in Uganda, complete with a permanent Internet connection courtesy of Bergen Centre of Electronic Art in Norway. This will help UAA to join the global league of video teleconferencing. The pinnacle of the workshop is bound to take place today on February 27, at the Afriart gallery.
The show will be graced by high level government officials, artists and art lovers. They will be cultural performances by Norwegians, the Ndere Troupe and the Uganda Heritage Roots. Lt Gen Elly Tumwine, the patron of UAA who played a monumental role in the coming of Motherboard will also be present. The next ten days after this show will include a showbiz tour to be hosted by Alliance Françoise, the National Theatre and others. These institutions have expressed a desire in showing the outcomes of a workshop of this genre.
A gleeful, Platou was quick to say, “For a long time music and visual arts have been treated as different entities but we want to amalgamate them – already our initial objectives have been underscored I am excited.”
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