Gateja’s art, poetry, fashion mix
Feb 09, 2005
SANAA Gateja is indeed an exceedingly unusual artist judging by the measure at which he has chosen to be a non-conformist.
By Nathan Kiwere
SANAA Gateja is indeed an exceedingly unusual artist judging by the measure at which he has chosen to be a non-conformist.
During the official opening of his latest exhibition code named ‘Art and Development’ last Friday, many of the patrons that attended were incessantly astounded.
First, it was a fashion show with fancy models strutting the artist’s bark cloth outfits, complete with blended jewellry works.
Then, followed poetry by Samson Senkaaba, arguably the most eccentric Ugandan modern artist and then a visual performance by Henry Mzili Mujunga, again with Senkaaba. Then it was time for the big show; a tour into Kwetu Africa art gallery, glowing with a melange of bark cloth embossed with paint and broken glass collage. All this is at the crescent of Lubowa hill near International school of Uganda.
With the present situation, where most proprietors strive to put their galleries in town for easy access, one would wonder whether any one could take the trouble to cover such a distance up the hill just to look at art works.
I couldn’t agree more with the old adage that goes: “If a man can write a good book, or preach a better sermon even if he builds his house in the forest, men will make a beaten path through the woods to reach him.â€
Sanaa Gateja is known to be the leading self-taught artist in Uganda. He invented a technique of jewellry making that defies the conventional precious stones of gold and silver. He instead cuts magazine papers into small pieces, rolls them with adhesive substances into small pieces, which dry up and become as hard as a stone. From these, he makes necklaces, bracelets, armlets and head tops.
The backcloth outfits are embossed with a combination of radiant colour, especially reds, blues, oranges and finished with jewellry.
Didier Martin, the director of Alliance Francaise, who attended the opening said; “The most important thing about this exhibition is the use of backcloth as opposed to canvas; the combination of many disciplines such as fashion, poetry, painting shows you don’t have to limit yourself, but you can explore deeper.â€
Sanaa is the only Ugandan artist, who contributed his jewellry works to ‘Made in Africa’, a major design project of different designers in Africa.
It started in November 2004 and continues worldwide for the next two years. This is the first exhibition that brings together all African designers.
It was officially inaugurated by the French Premier, Raffarin and organised by the French Foreign ministry and locally coordinated by Alliance Francaise.
Sanaa’s exhibition will be running for one more week from now.
SANAA Gateja is indeed an exceedingly unusual artist judging by the measure at which he has chosen to be a non-conformist.
During the official opening of his latest exhibition code named ‘Art and Development’ last Friday, many of the patrons that attended were incessantly astounded.
First, it was a fashion show with fancy models strutting the artist’s bark cloth outfits, complete with blended jewellry works.
Then, followed poetry by Samson Senkaaba, arguably the most eccentric Ugandan modern artist and then a visual performance by Henry Mzili Mujunga, again with Senkaaba. Then it was time for the big show; a tour into Kwetu Africa art gallery, glowing with a melange of bark cloth embossed with paint and broken glass collage. All this is at the crescent of Lubowa hill near International school of Uganda.
With the present situation, where most proprietors strive to put their galleries in town for easy access, one would wonder whether any one could take the trouble to cover such a distance up the hill just to look at art works.
I couldn’t agree more with the old adage that goes: “If a man can write a good book, or preach a better sermon even if he builds his house in the forest, men will make a beaten path through the woods to reach him.â€
Sanaa Gateja is known to be the leading self-taught artist in Uganda. He invented a technique of jewellry making that defies the conventional precious stones of gold and silver. He instead cuts magazine papers into small pieces, rolls them with adhesive substances into small pieces, which dry up and become as hard as a stone. From these, he makes necklaces, bracelets, armlets and head tops.
The backcloth outfits are embossed with a combination of radiant colour, especially reds, blues, oranges and finished with jewellry.
Didier Martin, the director of Alliance Francaise, who attended the opening said; “The most important thing about this exhibition is the use of backcloth as opposed to canvas; the combination of many disciplines such as fashion, poetry, painting shows you don’t have to limit yourself, but you can explore deeper.â€
Sanaa is the only Ugandan artist, who contributed his jewellry works to ‘Made in Africa’, a major design project of different designers in Africa.
It started in November 2004 and continues worldwide for the next two years. This is the first exhibition that brings together all African designers.
It was officially inaugurated by the French Premier, Raffarin and organised by the French Foreign ministry and locally coordinated by Alliance Francaise.
Sanaa’s exhibition will be running for one more week from now.