Mugisha marries nature's ideas with classic photography

Jul 07, 2016

Matthias Mugisha is currently exhibiting at 32 Degrees East in Kansanga

When art meets photography, creativity is indeed brought to life.

This is the kind of inspiration that comes from the works of Matthias Mugisha, a 47-year-old photographer in Kampala from Kanungu district in the West.

From looking at the smallest of objects through a camera, Mugisha takes and prints out chart-sized photos.

"I look at the things in nature that many people would ignore and I have them showcased to the public," Mugisha says.

Building the skill

Mugisha compares this tiny part of a plant to the design of the cable for a landline telephone. (Credit: Solomon Kalema)


By the time Mugisha was born in 1969, his father had developed a hobby.

"My father loved photography. Growing up, I joined him in printing photos in a dark room that we had at home. Along way he handed me my first camera when I was only six years old," Mugisha recalls.

During the early days, Mugisha got the necessary exposure to a practice that would soon turn into a profession and as photography was developing out of the dark room, Mugisha's love for photography was also growing and it influenced his biggest academic decision.

"When I got to Senior Six at Makobore High School in Rukungiri, my choice for Physics, Chemistry and Biology was overrun by my interest in photography. I wanted to be a doctor, but photography was where the real passion was," he says.

All through his higher education, Mugisha focused on photography and after Senior Six in 1991 he went to India to undertake a diploma in photography at the Asian Academy of Film and Television in Northern India.

"I graduated in 2006 and added a certificate in photojournalism at the Centre for Advancement of Journalism in Johannesburg South Africa," he recalls.

Catching up with the times

 

Having been born back in the 60s Mugisha grew up printing black and white photos in his father's dark room. But as he grew up, he managed to adapt to the fast-paced change in technology.

In part, this adaptation came during his stay at 32 degrees East in Kansanga where artists and photographers are given a platform to grow their skills and about 15 years with the New Vision as a photographer and writer.

Nothing new

Better technology meant that Mugisha would get cameras and lenses that could see what he wanted to show people around him.

"I had discovered things that are in day-to-day life that seem to be duplications of what already exists in nature," the photographer says.

So from using the technology, he travelled the country photographing spiders, ants, egg shells and sometimes smoke patterns.

"When you look at smoke for a while you start to notice patterns that take the shape of objects you already know. This enticed me to photograph such patterns, print them out and show them to people," Mugisha says.

One unique photo that Mugisha has is one of the networks on the wings of a fly.

This photo reveals a pattern just like the one used in building brick houses.

"The joints of the cement patterns do not lie directly on top of each other, which is the same exact pattern on the wings. It's a probable explanation for the strength of either of the structures. Strong buildings are built this way and a fly too can fly in winds of even high speeds over long distances without breaking its wings," he says.

To Mugisha, none of the patterns and designs that man comes up with is new.

His belief that in all the works there is "nothing new" gave the name to his current photo exhibition at 32 degrees East in Kansanga where he has returned to showcase these skills until July 24.

Mugisha explaining the inspiration behind 'Nothing New'. (Credit: Solomon Kalema)


Stepping ahead

Unlike other photographers, Mugisha chose not to sit in one space but explore all possibilities.

This has since earned him a series of accolades from the Uganda Press Photo Awards including first place in the News Singles Category and second as well as third place in the Environment Singles category in the inaugural 2012 edition of the awards.

He topped these up with the first and second place in the nature category of the 2013 edition and in 2014 he earned an honourable mention for a photo he took of a worker inside Kakira Sugar factory walking through a section that was almost filled with steam.

Another unique photo is one of a snake swallowing a lizard in Mabira forest which was at number one in the 2014 edition.

He did not miss his somewhat habitual slot in the nature singles category where he settled for second place.  

Mugisha's belief in going forward is evident in his exhibition which he hopes to take to even bigger platforms than the renowned 32 degrees East in Kansanga.

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Tasa Bahana, 32 degrees East: Today many more people have access to visual arts equipment and smart phones too. I believe photography is something people should get involved in.

Dennis Mubiru (below), visual artist: Art and photography help to open people's minds. Government here should pick a leaf from the government of Kenya and Tanzania where artists are supported more. That explains why fewer individuals are doing the kind of creative work like Mugisha is doing. Its organisations like Bayimba, Alliance Française Kampala and 32 degrees that are supporting artists.

 



Edmond Kizito (below), Radio One Spectrum host: Photography critical thinking looking at one image will give you even twenty interpretations that fundamental truths of life. Homes should have such inspirational photos to mentor children, and so should hotel lobbies.

 

Joshua Kagimu (below), visual and performance artist: Art which is interpreted through photography. We are living around art everyday but we tend to ignore it. This kind of photography is growing and exploring what is in the art around us.

 

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