Deep colours that arrest your eyes

By Cynthia NankumbaIN a corner of Tulifanya Gallery, three young men are seated close to each other, deeply engrossed in a manly talk. They are clasped in each other’s arms and staring broadly in each other’s eyes.They have sat like this for hours and days or perhaps for a year. Their hair is unkempt, their faces look pale and their clothes are almost rugged.Whatever they are discussing, no one seems to know since they are inaudible. Not a sound can be heard from their mouths. Whatever idea 24-year-old Simon Seguya is portraying is for you to find out.This and others are some of the exhibitions at the gallery on Hannington Road. The exhibition, which started on January 24, has attracted work from 14 young artists. The artists use water colours and oil on canvass. Jewellry, wooden and metallic sculptures are also displayed.The pieces are an imposing sight exhibited to keep an on-looker’s eyes rolling gracefully in admiration. Most of the work is painted in bright primary colours, making the pieces inviting to the eye.Denis Kakooza, a graduate from Makerere University, uses yellow water colours to portray a busy afternoon on the city streets. The yellow colour depicts the hectic mood and harsh atmosphere vendors are working under in Uganda.Ibra Kamya, a 24-year-old self-trained artist finds passion in the African-made necklace. He drives us back to our roots, in the pre-colonial era when African women cherished beads as a much valued attribute of beauty.For those who think black is a colour of the dull and for death, 27-year old Jude Katente is out to battle this belief and re-write history. He uses black to highlight a vibrant village scene. He draws black fishermen in bright red boats, using black nets to capture lots of fish from a lake. Among the exhibitors are three ladies; Dora Kasozi, a Fine Art graduate of Makerere, Gloria Luwedde of Nkumba University and Barbara Lwanga, a self-trained artist.According to officials at the gallery, the exhibitions were selected from among works from over 20 different artists. The exhibition, code-named ‘Discovery’, is aimed at helping young local artists to sell their ideas and expose their potential. The pieces, which cost between sh30,000 and sh350,000, have so far attracted 15 buyers. However, the gallery officials maintain that “The community of art buyers in Uganda is still very small.”ends