Ancestral Custodians
Look one group exhibition 5th edition
The Family Scar (A man`s search for his soul)
Mapping the unseen
IMPARTED IMPRESSIONS A RETROSPECTIVE OF LYDIA MUGAMBI
Nature`s Assertion
Tamed Emotions
TAMED EMOTIONS SOLO EXHIBITION BY KASPA 15TH JUNE – 14TH JULY 2024 Kasambeko Paul, commonly known as Kaspa, was born in 1980 and grew up in the suburbs of Kampala, Uganda. From an early age, he was fascinated by the landscape, cultural diversity, people’s behavior, wellbeing, and the daily life struggles of those around him. In 2004, Kaspa graduated with honors from Makerere University Kampala, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Industrial and Fine Arts. Some of his exhibitions include: Might Minds Joint Art Exhibition, Umoja Art Gallery 2023, The ART of Kaspa , UNITED NATIONS RECREATION CENTER Nairobi, 2019, East African art Biennale Tanzania 2007, 2011, 2017, The Intellectual Center for African Arts Georgetown University Washington DC 2010, Nommo Gallery, 2008 and Free at last, Makerere University Art gallery, 2005. Painting is Kaspa’s medium of choice for creative expression. He values the freedom it provides in his creative process, particularly through the use of collage, thick brush strokes, and varying black and scribbled lines. These techniques allow him to convey his u nique perceptions of moods, which he shares with his audience. Kaspa’s great passions in life are travel, adventure, and painting. Painting enables him not only to record his personal experiences and moments but also to preserve the nature and history that his audience can enjoy. His works reflect the diversity and beauty of his world experiences.
Look one group edition – 4th Edition
Look One group exhibition is an annual group exhibition organized by Xenson art space. This year we will be showcasing works of seven sensational and enthusiastic emerging artists and it will be the forth edition as the first edition was held in 2020. The objective of Look One group exhibition is to give young and emerging artists an opportunity to exhibit a body of their works in a professional way in an art gallery for the very first time and be able to kick start their art career. Each artist has a distinct and profound story to share through their art forms. This will be the first professional exhibition for each of the artists giving us the opportunity to be the first to experience their work and support them. For this year’s selection, we have a unique blend of artists from different backgrounds and this is seen through their work as they share their experiences in relation with their immediate communities. The artists were selected through an open call that was put out in 2023, where we received many applicants and these were among those selected.
LUMIIMAMAWUGWE
LUMIIMAMAWUGWE Lumiimamawugwe is Xenson’s reaction to the covid19 pandemic. During the first few days of the pandemic, as he went through his sketch book, he found sketches of portraits in masks and they were signed in 2015. Although he could not immediately remember the inspiration behind the sketches, he remembered seeing some Chinese wearing masks around 2014 in down town Kampala. But also recalled going to kabale and the air and the smell was so clean and refreshing as compared to cosmopolitan Kampala. This in a way triggered a series of paintings and Ideas. As the lock down progressed different terminologies were used to refer to the pandemic. “Senyiga omukwabwe” and Lumiima mawugwe mainly by presenters of radio Simba and Central broadcasting services. Xenson picked great interest in the terminology Lumiima Mawugwe as he found it deeply poetic but also politically charged. Amidst the 2020 elections season and eventual violence that marked the election Lumiima Mawugwe became the definitive reflection of the elections. The abstract couldn’t have been timely. Many people especially in the west lost their lives but also many opposing youth in Uganda found themselves behind bars, how Ironic! The pandemic became the difficult face of the election season. As part of the SOPS, economically, socially and spiritually the face mask became the new Talisman. Talisman: An object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune. Or something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects. Hope Before the pandemic, Xenson was ready to release his live in studio sophomore album; Yaaye. Amidst the helplessness, stress, hopelessness that was brought about by the pandemic; one song Bugulumu gave him comfort. Bugulumu is an inspirational song with an indigenous melody that had Xenson had for over four years before the song was recorded. Bugulumu’s cadence and emotion is the ultimate remedy for citizens as we try to get back to normality. Great thanks to Afrie and the Cheburum choir for the chorus, Giovan Kiyingi on the thumb piano and percussions, Jude Mugerwa on the piano, JJ Bugoma – Acoustic drums, Davis the violinist – Violin.
Know thyself (Loud whispers from the ancestors)
Mag. Arts Louise Deininger As an African artist, her conceptual body of works in a contemporary sense, is focused, within the field of consciousness, spiritual science, metaphysics, self and personal development, self-leadership, critical thinking and identity: including other multidisciplinary subjects in relation to man, the environment and all of existence. She is the founder and President of GYCO Art and Education Academy www.gyco.eu , with the vision of working on the mindset of youth that are directly or indirectly affected by aftermath of war to unlock their full potential. – so that they may strive to flourish and grow in freedom and liberty, pursue their dreams and promote the lasting welfare of Northern Uganda. 2021-23 Served on the board as elected Co-President of VBKOE, Austrian Association of Women Artists. She is also the winner of 2019 Black Austrian art and culture award, a published author and a certified leadership coach. Having studied Contextual painting at the Fine Arts Academy University, Vienna, under the tutelage of Prof. Hans Ashley Scheirl. She lives and works in Vienna, Austria and Gulu City, post- war Northern Uganda