Uganda art bounces back

By Vision Reporter Demand for Uganda art is on a steady increase as local artists bounce back on the international scene to capture lovers and collectors. Bark cloth replaces canvass, beads replace colours and larger than life sculptures make it different. Nuwa Wamala Nyanzi, the chairman Uganda Artists Association, says the biggest market is the expatriate community. He says locals appreciate art but the prices are prohibitive. "There are now reprints of any art piece at a pocket friendly price from sh20,000 to sh50,000. The original pieces go for sh300,000 to sh500,000." Other than the pioneer Nommo Gallery in Nakasero, other galleries like Okapi, Tulifanya , Cassava Republic and Gallery Café are a must destination for collectors. These, coupled with regular exhibitions at Makerere University, ITEC Kyambogo and Nkumba University, lend a vibrant art world. John F. Keller, the proprietor Gallery Café, says oil paintings, batiks and sculptures from the DR Congo, Rwanda and West Africa sell equally fast. "Customers are mainly tourists and the expatriate community. This means that incidents like the Bwindi attack cost us a lot of market." He says backpackers do not have the money to spend. Their target is the big spenders who want to take walking sticks, curved stools, wall hangings and sculptures. Maria Fisher of Tulifanya Gallery says her gallery has gems, sculptures and fabric that keep the market vibrant. Down at the African Village at the National Theatre, a regular stream of locals and tourists flows. However, higher institutions are everybody's destinations as the scholars' dispose off their priceless works at fair rates. Today works of art grace the walls of institutions, hotels and many homes. Ends