Contrasts art exhibition in Nairobi: 25 May to 21 August 2016

The Sankara Hotel in Westlands, Nairobi, is holding an art exhibition called ‘Contrasts’ from 25 May to 21 August 2016. The exhibition displays works from six regional artists.

Kenyan artist Alex Hamawi studied in Britain at the Slade School of Fine Art and also the Royal Academy of Art. The works displayed include a windmill in the Mara of Kenya and impala with the Nairobi city skyline in the distance.

Erick Shitawa from Kenya presents acrylic abstracts with themes including symbols, architecture, humans, and animals depicting everyday life in his country. His works include World Food Program in Yatta, Entebbe Picturesque, and Kanamai Shopping Centre.

Sophie Walbeoffe is a well known artist in Kenya, showing her works in London and Dubai. Her favourite subjects include camels, seascapes and still life. She paints simultaneously with a brush in each hand.

Richard Kimathi is exhibiting new works, such as Empty Shows and Bubbles. Both are mixed media on canvas.

Chelenge Van Rampelberg, from Eldoret in Kenya, has her wooden sculptures on show.

Highly acclaimed Sudanese artist, Rashid Diab, is also exhibiting his works that include his themes of Sudanese women. I met the artist at his home in Khartoum in 2014, and witnessed his extensive collection of brightly veiled women on stark backgrounds.

MARTINA NICOLLS is the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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