By
Margaretta wa Gacheru (posted November 27, 2017)
Every
Nairobian who has made their way to the CBD (Central Business District) has
seen monumental sculptures standing outside in public spaces.
If they have
come to town, they have surely seen the giant figure created by the Kenyan
sculptor Oshoto Ondula of Tom Mboya standing tall just next to the National
Archives. And if they walk half a block from Tom Mboya’s site to the start of
Kimathi Street, they will find the larger-than-life sculpture of Dedan Kimathi,
created by Kevin Oduor who collaborated with Kenyatta University.
Probably the
most renowned outdoor sculpture in Nairobi stands right next to Kenyatta International
Conference Centre. It’s the one of the country’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta,
dressed in full stately regalia.
But outdoor
sculptures need not be only of national leaders or even public figures like the
paleontologist Louis Leakey whose sculpture, created by the late Charles Bwiri,
is seated outside the Louis Leakey Auditorium at the Nairobi National Museum.
The Museum
itself is proof of that point. There’s amazing public art at the main entrance
of the Museum. One stone sculpture, called ‘Mother and Child’, is by the
Ugandan artist Frances Nnaggenda while a humble ‘Working Man’ is a short
distance away created by Jackson Wanjau.
And leave
alone the gigantic Dinosaur and life-size elephant called Ahmed that all school
children who visit the museum know very well. They also know about the tall
glass and metal sculpture that’s been erected just behind the Nnaggenda,
although they probably don’t know it was created by the glass artist Tonney
Mugo.
Outdoor
sculptures have increasingly become popular in both public and private gardens.
Two that were specifically commissioned for the Garden City Mall are by Maggie
Otieno and Peterson Kamwathi. And three that stand tall and proud on the
grounds of George Waititu’s Tafaria Castle are all by Joseph
Bertiers Mbathia.
But one need
not own a shopping mall or even a castle to appreciate the way an outdoor
sculpture can beautify someone’s garden. Just ask the American-born scholar Dr.
Dana Seidenberg about the pleasure she finds in both owning Kenyan art,
including sculptures that she’s placed all around her garden, and supporting
local artists in the process.
Her two
Kenyan sculptors whose works she owns the most of are Irene Wanjiru and Elijah Ogira.
“I have
pieces by other Kenyan artists but I’m particularly fond of Irene’s and Ogira’s
art,” says Dana. Both artists work mainly in wood, but interestingly enough
Dana has placed more of Irene’s sculptures out in her garden while Ogira’s more
functional sculptures are to be found at the front entrance of Dana’s home.
According to
the former Principal of the Buru Buru Institute of Fine Art, Boniface Kimani,
most of the sculptures that he creates are commissioned by private individuals
who know the quality of his art.
“Some of the
commissions are for sculptures that remain inside people’s homes. But quite a
few are meant to stand outside the house, either at the front entrance, outside
the front door or out in the garden,” says Boniface who resigned from BIFA sometime
back in order to do his art full-time.
Another
sculptor who spent a lot of time creating sculptures for people’s private
gardens and front gates is the late Expedito Mwebe. His son Michael Angelo
worked closely with his father and so, he can point out practically every house
in town that’s got an example of his and his father’s outdoor art.
One man who
says he loves the sculpture he created at the front entrance of his home is
Edward Njenga. The ninety-five year old sculptor says the giant bust of a
beautiful young girl which is situated just outside the front gate is an
excellent marker to help visitors easily find their way to his house.
The other
artist who’s created outdoor sculptures to show visitors the way to her home
and business is Nani Croze of Kitengela Glass Research and Training Trust. In
fact, all around the grounds of Nani’s place one can see outdoor sculptures
(made both by her, members of her staff and visiting artists) that will make
one wish that they too could have outdoor sculptures in their backyard.
