01 August 2014 – 31 August 2014 /
Kampala Art Biennale 2014: PROGRESSIVE AFRICA
Kampala, Uganda
The first Kampala Art Biennale takes place in August 2014. The theme PROGRESSIVE AFRICA is derived from the current Pan African, and increasingly global, discourse that Africa’s economic growth and development is booming and happening right NOW… Popular phrases heard nowadays are: “Africa Is The Future” and “Africa Rising”.
Today in Africa, you will come across divergent conversations between different kinds of people; African with African, African with European, Indian with American, all talking about the status of Africa in the global village.
Some will say Europe and the rest of the world are moving to Africa for opportunities while others will say African economies are growing into Global markets. There is increased concern from the west about increased Chinese investment on the continent. The growing urbanization of African populations fuelled by the increased entrepreneurial shift into the service industry is also an issue of note. All these vibrations suggest one thing; that something is happening on the African continent whether right now as it moves into the future.
Michael Soi, Nairobi by day.
The Kampala Art Biennale 2014 is part of this discussion under the theme PROGRESSIVE AFRICA. It is calling on African painters, photographers, illustrators, cartoonists, writers and all 2D media artists to present their perception of the current status of Africa through visual art. The verdict will result in over 100 images pro or against the purported progress, with viewers and visitors joining in on the discussion with the help of the visual aids.
The Kampala Art Biennale 2014 is set to serve as a conduit through which to start a debate that is desperately need right now about a modern and progressive Africa starting right here in Kampala. There is a need to generate discussions centered on looking beyond aid to the financial resources Africa needs to enable transformative growth.
Overarching goals:
• Exposure of Contemporary Art from Africa to Ugandans;
• Exposure of Contemporary Art from Uganda to Africans;
• Educate the Kampala society about the value and importance of contemporary art in general;
• Exchange between African artists and practitioners;
• Use art to build Kampala and Uganda as a preferred tourist destination;
• Use art to rebuild the creative, jubilant, celebratory spirit of Kampala.
Nick Monroe, Hospital.
Artists: Georges Senga – DRC, Harandane Dicko – Mali, Alexander Tadesse – Ethiopia, Angel Ihosvanny Felicidade – Angola, Ezra Wube – Ethiopia/USA, Florine Demosthene – Ghana/Haitian, Ronex Ahimbisibwe – Uganda, Tashinga Matindike-Gondo – Zimbabwe, Samson Mnisi – South Africa, Senzo Njabulo Shabangu – South Africa, Olusola Otori – Nigeria, Da Costa Kwami – Togo, Yonas Melesa – Ethiopia, Paul Ndema – Uganda, Gopal Dagnogo – CÔte D’ivoire, Dahlia Maubane – South Africa, Juan Orrantia – South Africa/Colombia, Kalungi Kabuye – Uganda, Rudo Nyangulu – Zimbabwe, Nick Monro – Zimbabwe, Samuel Githui – Kenya, Sipho Mpongo – South Africa, Anwar Sadat Nakibinge – Uganda, Eria Nsubuga Sane – Uganda, Joshua Ibanda – Uganda, Nico Phooko – South Africa, Rael Salley – South Africa/USA, Ronnie Chris Tindi – Uganda, Ronald Kerango – Uganda, Shelley Van Heusen – Uganda/USA, Henk Jonker – Uganda/Holland, Daniel Rankadi Mosako – South Africa, Wasswa Donald – Uganda, Ufuoma Isiavwe – Nigeria, Justus Kyalo – Kenya, Yassir Ali Mohammed – Kenya/Sudan, Zerihun Seyoum – Ethiopia, Michael Soi – Kenya, Danisile Ncube – Zimbabwe, Jan van Esch – Tanzania/Holland, Babirye Leila – Uganda, Sylvie Phillips – South Africa/France, Gillian Gibbons – Uganda/UK, Akwele Suma Glory – Ghana, Brian Omolo – Kenya
Paul Ndema, Innocence.