Exhibitions highlight artistry of pottery and bugs

It’s a wonderful story about a man who not only worked closely with poor and disadvantaged Kenyans for many years and also chronicled their lives in clay.

Edward Njenga with Mau Mau detainee sculptures. Photo/Margaretta wa Gacheru 

The other down-to-earth exhibition is a photographic one by professional photographer and documentalist, Eric Gitonga. Entitled ‘Dudus of Brackenhurst.’He was also a detainee during the Emergency, an experience he graphically depicted in clay but which is, unfortunately, not part of his segment of this well-rounded exhibition which features a range of other contemporary ceramicists, among them another award-winning artist Waithera Chege as well as Beatrice Ndumi, Lilian Barengo, Juliana Igoki and the Kibichiko Potters among others.

The show is displayed at the Brackenhurst Community Centre, given that Gitonga snapped all his insects on site where more than a decade ago, the Centre brought in a forester who proceeded to uproot all the exotic trees , replacing them with all indigenous trees and shrubs.

The result was that the terrain is filled with indigenous bugs and other wildlife who feel at home among the vegetation these creatures have consumed for generations.

The natural wealth and flourishing wildlife, including insects like the long-legged fly and shield bug in Gitonga’s Dudus show speak volumes about the value of sticking with indigenous vegetation.

Finally, almost simultaneously, exhibitions of paintings by Mike Chalo opened early this week at both the Talisman Restaurant and the Banana Hill Art Gallery.

Chalo worked hard to create paintings which have something in common with the sculptures of Edward Njenga seeing as both artists portray the lives of working people struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis. More to be said on his shows next week.

It’s a wonderful story about a man who not only worked closely with poor and disadvantaged Kenyans for many years and also chronicled their lives in clay.

The other down-to-earth exhibition is a photographic one by professional photographer and documentalist, Eric Gitonga. Entitled ‘Dudus of Brackenhurst.’He was also a detainee during the Emergency, an experience he graphically depicted in clay but which is, unfortunately, not part of his segment of this well-rounded exhibition which features a range of other contemporary ceramicists, among them another award-winning artist Waithera Chege as well as Beatrice Ndumi, Lilian Barengo, Juliana Igoki and the Kibichiko Potters among others.

The show is displayed at the Brackenhurst Community Centre, given that Gitonga snapped all his insects on site where more than a decade ago, the Centre brought in a forester who proceeded to uproot all the exotic trees , replacing them with all indigenous trees and shrubs.

The result was that the terrain is filled with indigenous bugs and other wildlife who feel at home among the vegetation these creatures have consumed for generations.

The natural wealth and flourishing wildlife, including insects like the long-legged fly and shield bug in Gitonga’s Dudus show speak volumes about the value of sticking with indigenous vegetation.

Finally, almost simultaneously, exhibitions of paintings by Mike Chalo opened early this week at both the Talisman Restaurant and the Banana Hill Art Gallery.

Chalo worked hard to create paintings which have something in common with the sculptures of Edward Njenga seeing as both artists portray the lives of working people struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis. More to be said on his shows next week.

margaretta.gacheru@gmail.com

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