Rock art
The first rock art site was discovered in 1945 at Nyero, 250 km from the capital. Its paintings, dated to 1250 B.C., are an example of the use of red pigment, abundantly used in Africa. The concentric circle is undoubtedly the most common motif. However, the superimposed designs suggest that rarer geometric motifs date from different periods. At Nyero, six boats can be identified, one of which is 2.5 meters long. The chromatic palette is strongly dominated by red, white and their derivatives.
Uganda's rock art sites are concentrated in the east of the country, in the districts of Kumi, Pallisa and Kaberamaido. The origins of cave art have yet to be identified, but archaeologist Catherine Namono is the first Ugandan specialist to devote herself to the study of this field.
In this fashion-conscious country, the barkcloth technique has its roots in prehistoric tradition. Developed before the invention of weaving, it was used to make the traditional garment, a toga tightened by a wide belt. The inner bark of the Ficus natalensis tree is beaten to a fine, supple texture. Until the arrival of cotton fabrics, brought by Arab merchants in the 19th century, each village had its own manufacturing workshop.
Ochre-colored for the common people, it was dyed white or black for kings and chiefs. For some years now, its manufacture has been encouraged, and young designers are giving it pride of place.
Opening to the international scene
Sculptor John Odoch Ameny, born in Lira in 1948, is undoubtedly one of Uganda's best-known artists abroad. His works, inspired by the Nilotic tribes of northern Uganda, are made from salvaged materials and metal parts (bolts, bicycle chains, etc.). He also works in wood. His expressive figures evoke deconstructed nudes with insect-like limbs. His stone sculptures tend towards abstraction, and increasingly refined forms. John Odoch Ameny's sculptures are held in collections in Asia, Europe and the USA (Museum der Weltkulturen, Frankfurt/Main and Kunst Transit Berlin).
Paintings by Geoffrey Mukasa (1954-2009) grace the walls of museums and private collections in Europe, America and Africa. Maria Naita, Phillip Wacha and Ibrahim Kitimbo are among the contemporary Ugandan artists most widely recognized by art dealers and gallery owners.
Photographic art
Among the younger generation, two artists set out to convey an image of their countries by photographing Ugandans. Sarah Waiswa creates posed, close-up portraits that probe the souls of her models. Her Stranger in a familiar land series won her the Découverte prize at the Rencontres de la photographie d'Arles in 2016. In this series, she addresses the persecution of albinos in Uganda. More generally, she explores the identity of the African continent through her lens, particularly that of the new generation.
Ugandan photographer and documentary maker Esther Ruth Mbabazi was born in 1995 into a modest family. Through her work, she aims to capture the changes affecting the African continent, in all aspects of daily life. She attaches particular importance to living conditions in rural areas and among minorities. Based in Kampala, Esther Ruth Mbabazi contributes to major international magazines such as National Geographic, and also works for NGOs. She is also a Magnum Foundation scholarship holder.
Esther Ruth Mbabazi's photographs have been published by leading magazines such as The New York Times, TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Slate and El Pais.
Afri-Cans street art festival
The Afri-Cans festival takes place over two days in Kampala. The 2018 edition took place at the Kitintale skatepark in the capital's working-class suburbs. The festival brings together the underprivileged population and artists from street culture. Music, dance, visual arts unite to celebrate joy. To the sound of hip-hop, local residents see their walls transformed into works of art, and temporarily forget the difficulties of their daily lives.
The festival now attracts graffiti artists from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia, as well as Canada and Europe. Sparrow, a breakdancer, photographer and graffiti artist, founded this event to give people hope through creative energy.
Contemporary art
Among Ugandan galleries,Afriart Gallery (afriartgallery.org) stands out for the quality of its selection. Founded in 2002 by Daudi Karungi, it has established itself on the contemporary African art market. The gallery is run by an experienced artist, sensitive to the challenges of an artistic career, who supports his protégés like a mentor. Artists represented by Afriart have the opportunity to exhibit in museums, biennials, fairs and international galleries in London, Cape Town, Abu Dhabi Art Fair and ArtX Lago.
All forms of artistic expression are appreciated, especially sculpture. Richard Atugonza, born in 1994, trained in sculpture and photography at the University of Kampala. He worked as a craftsman before taking up an artist's residency. On this occasion, he developed his Imperfection perfections series, featuring portraits sculpted from unusual materials such as plastic bottles and charcoal.
Sungi Mlengeya is a self-taught painter born in 1991. Using acrylics, she paints figures in dark, minimalist cameos, focusing on women: their struggles, their achievements and their place in today's society. One thing's for sure: women count on the Ugandan art scene.
