A tribute to mum through ceramics
Apr 21, 2005
Having showcased his earthenware for essentially commercial purposes for about two decades
By Nathan Kiwere
Having showcased his earthenware for essentially commercial purposes for about two decades, Bruno Sserunkuuma has made a dramatic turn and made an exhibition solely dedicated to his late mother.
Sserunkuuma, a lecturer at the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts, Makerere University, has dubbed the show My Village. The show is a reminiscence of his village, which he never had chance to grow up in and the contribution of his mum to his welfare.
“I am dedicating this exhibition to my mum, who died in 2002 because I haven’t held any locally since then,†Sserunkuuma said.
The show opened on April 9 and is going on until the end of the month at Tulifanya Art Gallery in Kampala. Sserunkuuma is showcasing ceramic vases mainly tailored for decorative rather than functional purposes.
Sserunkuuma is known for his ability to articulately elaborate cultural narratives on a rounded clay pot with momentous precision. This documented strength is not absent in this exhibition either, in which he has brought over 35 vases for display.
His art is characterised by themes that centre around Baganda women. Sserunkuuma says he uses Baganda women as his principle source of inspiration because they fascinate him.
“By the way that theme enabled me to win the 2002 UNESCO award for African Arts and Crafts in Burkina Faso,†he says.
Sserunkuuma also talks of how much his mother cherished the Ganda culture, which made him develop a special attachment to it.
This is vividly reflected in his works for instance one of his ceramics has images of a female figure, donning a Kiganda outfit, rhythmically repeated on the surface and interlaced with faces.
Sserunkuuma capitalises on the browns and let only blue to stick out as a complimentary harmony. The piece is finished with a sheen of glaze.
Sserunkuuma will do almost anything to promote ceramic art. He insists ceramic art is an area that has not been promoted as much as other arts. This is in spite of the fact that most ethnic groups in Uganda have got a historical background in pottery. He attributes the current problem to the high level of poverty among most folks, who prefer to substitute cheap plastics for the beautiful ceramics.
Having showcased his earthenware for essentially commercial purposes for about two decades, Bruno Sserunkuuma has made a dramatic turn and made an exhibition solely dedicated to his late mother.
Sserunkuuma, a lecturer at the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts, Makerere University, has dubbed the show My Village. The show is a reminiscence of his village, which he never had chance to grow up in and the contribution of his mum to his welfare.
“I am dedicating this exhibition to my mum, who died in 2002 because I haven’t held any locally since then,†Sserunkuuma said.
The show opened on April 9 and is going on until the end of the month at Tulifanya Art Gallery in Kampala. Sserunkuuma is showcasing ceramic vases mainly tailored for decorative rather than functional purposes.
Sserunkuuma is known for his ability to articulately elaborate cultural narratives on a rounded clay pot with momentous precision. This documented strength is not absent in this exhibition either, in which he has brought over 35 vases for display.
His art is characterised by themes that centre around Baganda women. Sserunkuuma says he uses Baganda women as his principle source of inspiration because they fascinate him.
“By the way that theme enabled me to win the 2002 UNESCO award for African Arts and Crafts in Burkina Faso,†he says.
Sserunkuuma also talks of how much his mother cherished the Ganda culture, which made him develop a special attachment to it.
This is vividly reflected in his works for instance one of his ceramics has images of a female figure, donning a Kiganda outfit, rhythmically repeated on the surface and interlaced with faces.
Sserunkuuma capitalises on the browns and let only blue to stick out as a complimentary harmony. The piece is finished with a sheen of glaze.
Sserunkuuma will do almost anything to promote ceramic art. He insists ceramic art is an area that has not been promoted as much as other arts. This is in spite of the fact that most ethnic groups in Uganda have got a historical background in pottery. He attributes the current problem to the high level of poverty among most folks, who prefer to substitute cheap plastics for the beautiful ceramics.