Roots of Expression

Alliance Francaise will be hosting this sculpture exhibition opening tomorrow 18:00 hrs (CAT).

A full review will appear in The Art Pages next month

Wednesday Cartoon

Here's our cartoons series, resuming after a brief hiatus. We are all pretty busy right now at the gallery working on the new paper amongst other things. Check back later for news updates.

The Art Pages – An Update

Work is going well, we already have two articles currently being edited as well as photos. So far contributors have been respectful of deadlines and been attending our meetings.

The key work right now is to look for funding for subsequent issues of the paper. We have managed to scrape together enough to publish our first issue but after that we need another source of funding. We are looking into some grants from embassies that have a keen interest in supporting the arts, but these grants can take some months to be approved. So we are have to be creative. We have a possible idea for raising some money but this idea is still in its early stages, stay tuned for more!

Despite these financial issues we are so heartened by the amount of support we are receiving from artists who feel this kind of newspaper is long overdue. For them and many others, we will continue the work.

We are also working on a website that will help promote The Art Pages, this is still very much under construction and we have to make allowances for our temperamental internet, but it is definitely getting there.

Kwathu Exhibition

Insaka Artists' Open Day

The Insaka Artists' workshop in Livingstone drew to a close last week with the artists who participating showing their work at the Henry Tayali Gallery. As evidenced by the work, the workshop was a clearly a great success.

Wednesday Cartoon

Wednesday Cartoon

Notes from the gallery - Getting 'out there'

Things are quiet at the Henry Tayali gallery at the moment. Many artists have been in Livingstone for the last two weeks taking part in the workshop and will be returning soon full of ideas and motivation.

While the cats have been away, we mice have been not really playing but using the time to think about ways to push the gallery forward as well as the art scene here in general. Despite the plethora of artists working in Lusaka, the community is sometimes fragmentary as each group gets on with the business of working and trying to sell their work. As a result, it is often a challenge for the blog team to keep up to date with events that are going on. So our first aim is to try and bring together collaborative elements that will be willing to report back to 'Lusaka Art Scene' so we can share with you all what is going on.

Using the internet for communication between artists here is a learning curve too, especially since internet access is expensive and slow. We're persevering and hope other artists will too. In a country with no art school and limited access to resources, the internet is an invaluable tool for artists to develop contacts outside of Lusaka and to find out about what is happening in the art world internationally. In order to point artists in the right direction as well as providing a platform for artists and supporters alike to network, we started our Ning network. Unfortunately this was days before the announcement that Ning is beginning to charge for this service, we hope that May 4th's anouncement of new prices will not be a shock and that we can somehow find funds to keep it going. http://lusakaartscene.ning.com/

Wednesday Cartoon

News Updates

AAW studios and Barefoot are collaborating on a project on art installations that will be seen all over Lusaka in outdoor spaces. The subject is 'The environment and climate change' and the workshop will culminate in a festival. More to come.

The Insaka workshop has started in Livingstone and is going well. We hope to get a report from the artists involved. the workshop will continue unil May 5th when there will be an open day.

The Henry Tayali Gallery is working on a proposal for funds that will be used for a merchandise workshop. Artists will be trained in screenprintng and lino printing and some principles of graphic design in order to sell their work at the gift shop that is also planned.

The New Lusaka Art Scene Network

We have started a new network on Ning in order encourage supporters, but also as an online space in which to discuss and share events, resources and ideas. Whether you are based in Lusaka or not, we still need your help and involvement. Feel free to join:



Visit Lusaka Art Scene

Wednesday Cartoon Day

We are pleased to be posting a cartoon by Nasalifya, one of Zambia's young and talented artists and writers. We hope to be showing at least one of his cartoons every Wednesday.

News and Events

Congratulations to Danny Chilyapa on a very successful exhibition at the Alliance Francaise.

We must thank British based non-profit Alive and Kicking for commissioning a sculpture for a fundraising auction back in the UK. Alive and Kicking make footballs locally in Zambia using local materials and manpower. Several artists have put forward bids and a decision on which will be auction is due in the next 3 weeks.

Welcome back to Zenzele Chulu who has been in Cameroon at the Art Bakery. Pictures and an account of his experience will be posted soon.

A piece of art has gone missing at the Henry Tayali Gallery, more on this will come on a separate posting.

The Lusaka National Museum is currently hosting an exhibition of paintings from the Lechwe Trust. The exhibition will continue until May and a review of the exhibition will be posted soon.

The Insaka Artists' residence program will be taking place from the 22nd April Livingstone and will end with an exhibition there on 6th May. The exhibition will then move to Lusaka. Our blogger Elizabeth Watkin will also attend part of the workshop to report and record.

Zenzele in Cameroon

Zenzele Chulu is currently in Cameroon as part of artist Goddy Leye's Art Bakery residency programme.

Below follows an update on his experiences...

Arts Collaboratory.

Cameroon and Zambia.

VISA FREE AFRICA

The meeting of Goddy Leye and Zenzele Chulu at the Art Bakery Open Studio in the night was a milestone of how important exchange programme works. The two discussed for the first time in almost three hours of information exchange , sharing information concerning their networks which they are pioneering, they shared at great length the skills of managing the networks, with different but similar experiences of artists development in the local setting.They shared the bitter experience of the VISA story, they analyzed it in socio – political and in artistic terms.

Zenzele missed the very important email which could have avoided the Douala International Airport stress. Before departure from Lusaka he had to go the bank, attend a women’s art exhibition planning meeting and handover key Insakartists responsibilities to Vincentio Phiri and Mulenga Chafilwa. Broadband internet had stopped working at Henry Tayali Visual Arts Centre, so it was followed that Zenzele could not even check his email all the way through to Addis Ababa and then to Douala, as the travel plan was based on the earlier email of getting VISA upon arrival at the Airport advised by Goddy, but not knowing that VISA application had changed. He had to go and get forms from Yaounde, the Cameroon capital city.

Knowing things wont be easy, Goddy quickly sent Zenzele email to explain the new complex procedure of getting a VISA, but it was too late because Zenzele was aleady in Cameroon as Goddy was half way to Yaounde to get VISA authorization letter from Ministry of Home Affairs offices. Zenzele arrived at Douala at midday , he spent over two hours wondering where Goddy was, he did not have his phone number on only if he could access his email account which had Goddy’s mobile phone and telephone details. By fate line of events, there was no internet even at Douala International Airport, “ the economical capital of Cameroon”. It was second day for Zenzele without access to internet because of traveling connecting flights from Zambia to Ethiopia and the Cameroon. The panic and concern grew wide and far beyond Douala and Yaounde. He tried to call Alessio at Triangle Arts and he was not available, he then called back to Zambia ask Mulenga Chafilwa and Vincentio Phiri to open his email account and get Goddy’s contact details and text them by mobile phone, Chafilwa managed to send Goddy’s cell number by texting.

It was then that Zenzele called Goddy whilst detained in the Commissioners office at Douala airport after two hours of struggling to get his cell number. Until that time he understood the reason why Goddy was not at the airport to welcome him, Justine Gaga came after an hour later, but could not succeed solving the issue, another two hours was spent trying to reason and negotiate the release of Zenzele from stress of being at airport. Permission was granted way into the dark side of the evening and finally Zenzele and Gaga were on Douala yellow taxi on the way to the village of Bonendale, leaving the passport in the commission office, though the air ticket transcript was given back to him. He made himself home with humble hospitality of Justine and Estella, with a meal of roasted fish from near by Wouri River and miondo a local cassava paste strips wrapped in banana leaves. Man has to endure the offerings of social encounters and survive for the next day.

Zenzele ‘s prime destination, Art Bakery, is a small but dynamic art centre, has grown with the community of Bonendale village from the very beginning and is seen as the community friendly art institution, bringing artists from inner city of Douala and beyond and enrich the village full of creative spirit hovering around. It has existed within the neighborhood for six years with its own inspirational history as a centre for community based art synergy, has stimulated the growing interest in this artistic humble retreat . The village has over ten artists settled in it , including the first contemporary artist to set up a studio near Art Bakery, Joel Mpah Dooh whom Zenzele Chulu met in Abuja, Nigeria in 2007 during the first ARESUVA Conference and Exhibition. Artists have the responsibility to develop the culture of Bonandale by restoring many abandoned houses and using the artistic advantage of transforming them into art studios, residency, library, and cosy garden harmonizing with the aggressive forest, the natural force is so strong that it can engulf an entire building with trees and grass, pushing the cemented floor out of their way.

Goody Leye a well known Cameroon video artist, who decided to claim the present day Art Bakery building from the embracing forest, he is the pioneer of the Art Bakery idea, It was a tough hard working effort to transform abandoned structures. These houses were built in colonial days by wealthy Africans who benefited from the riches brought in by Wouri River merchants, some by Portuguese stock, who created a fresh water stop over for their wide sea voyages, Germans, French and other sea adventurers made Bonendale a prosperous village hence its no ordinary village. Today, history can be seen through the tired looking old houses, most being brought back to life by artists. Art Bakery is one of the them. Bonendale will in future become one of the world’s best known renowned art centres, a foremost artists colony in the country. It has a rich historical heritage which blends well with artists ambition. One day, one out of every five people there will be an artist in Bonendale.



Compiled by

Zenzele Chulu

Chilyapa Lwando

Artist Focus - Chilyapa Lwando

Chilyapa Lwando is a busy man these days. Not only does he work full time for the Henry Tayali gallery, he's an active photographer and painter. Currently he is working double time to get ready for his exhibition at Alliance Francaise next month. Lwando is prolific and has a large body of work from which draw his pieces. Consequently the exhibition will be something of a retrospect.

The themes of traditional culture and society figure most in his work, though Lwando has been focusing on traditional culture in particular. He feels it is important to preserve and promote Zambian culture as he fears it is being eroded. However his paintings are not merely to educate but to celebrate and reinforce his own sense of identity as well as a way of exploring and critiquing some of the traditional ways found in Zambia and Africa more broadly. For Lwando his art and cultural identity are very closely woven together.



Other aspects of Lwando's work address social issues such as HIV/Aids and the role of women. He draws inspiration from the everyday activities of children and women.


Lwando's paintings are vivid and he likes to use fibres or sand to give his paintings texture. If you are in the Lusaka area on March 19th, stop by Alliance Francaise to see Chilyapa Lwando's paintings 'in the flesh' so to speak, and experience their vibrancy first hand.

News Updates

Lusaka Art Scene Blog Well Recieved: Flyers for the new Lusaka Art Scene blog were given out at the recent exhibition for Black History Month at Lusaka National Arts Museum. As a result we have had great positive feedback.


Workshop for Busines Training for Artists: This week the Henry Tayali Gallery is hosting a workshop on entrepreneurship for artists, in the hope this will help them support themselves through what they create. More on this on the blog later this week.

Photography Exhibition Opens This Week: Zambian based photographer Fabrice Palacio will be showing his work from Tunisia at the Alliance Francaise in Lusaka, the exhibition opens on Friday 12th February at 6pm and will run for one week. Fabrice Palacio Site.

Art Bakery, Cameroon: Later this month, Zenzele Chulu will be travelling to take part in a workshop called 'Art Bakery'. This project was set up by Goddy Leye, the well known artist from Cameroon, in 2003. Goddy Leye Site .

New Exhibition for Danny Lwando: Lusaka based painter and photographer Danny Lwando has been given space at Alliance Francaise here in Lusaka to exhibit his paintings in March.

New Art Guide in Progress: Elizabeth Watkin and Zenzele Chulu are working together to produce a map of all artistic places of interest in Lusaka that will be published on this site. From this there is also a plan to expand it into a guide booklet for visitors to Lusaka and Zambia.

Black History Month Exhibition Opens

The opening of the Black History Month Exhibition at Lusaka National Museum was a huge success with even the esteemed Kenneth Kaunda attending.

More pictures and accounts of the exhibition are to follow, meanwhile here are a few snaps.

1 Call for Residency Applications:
THE TULIPAMWE ARTS TRUST is a community empowerment project organized under the auspices of the VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT at the UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA Professional, self-reliant, dynamic artists who work in any traditional or new visual arts media are invited to apply for the Tulipamwe Residency in Namibia from 12 April – 12 May 2010. Tulipamwe’s residency program offers the artist-in-residence an opportunity to live and work in Windhoek , capital of Namibia for a period of 4 weeks, giving the visiting artist the opportunity to integrate in the local artistic community and to respond to the local situation in his/her work. Tulipamwe endeavors to facilitate cultural exchange and creative dialogue in support of the international Triangle artists’ network, to which it is affiliated. Therefore the artist is welcome (but not obliged) to collaborate with Namibian artists during the residency. Artists are also encouraged to respond to their individual experience of the Namibian cultural environment in their work. Designed as an opportunity to grow creatively and to expand cultural horizons, the residency does not offer any kind of financial remuneration. However, Tulipamwe will endeavor to cover self-catering accommodation and basic materials, plus a daily allowance for meals and local transport. Tulipamwe will also, depending on the route of travel, attempt to cover international travel costs. However, artists who are able to attract financial assistance for their travel to/from Namibia (or part of it) will enjoy priority. (Applications can be submitted to ArtMovesAfrica who may assist with traveling costs of African artists). The artist-in-residence will be invited to offer a visual presentation and/or practical demonstration of his/her work to Namibian artists, students and the general public, thereby contributing to general education. Digital or analog equipment will be available for this presentation. Towards the end of the residency, the artist-in-residence will be invited to hold an open studio day, while the residency will culminate in an exhibition in a Windhoek gallery. Application details: Only email applications will be considered. The following need to be submitted: * A brief Curriculum Vitae, detailing your nationality, country of residence, training, specialization, exhibition record and workshop experience. * A letter motivating your intent * A recent photo of yourself * 5 jpeg images of your recent artworks, not older than 2 years * Names and e-mail address of two referees. * NB: your email must not exceed 1MB, including attachments. If you cannot include everything in 1MB, please send more than one email.
Application deadline: 19 February 2010For further information
contact: Nicky nickyma@mweb.com.na or Hercules hviljoen@unam.na
Website: http://www.artshost.org/tulipamwe 2

2 Call for Community Workshop 1 applications
TULIPAMWE VISUAL ART COMMUNITY WORKSHOP IN NAMIBIA 2010 THE TULIPAMWE ARTS TRUST is a community empowerment project organized under the auspices of the VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT at the UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA Self-reliant, dynamic Namibian artists who work in any traditional or new visual arts media are invited to apply for the opportunity to offer a Tulipamwe Community Art workshop from 7 – 13 March 2010. Tulipamwe’s community outreach program offers the workshop artist an opportunity to work in a selected disadvantaged Namibian community for a period of 1 week, sharing knowledge and visual art techniques with local artists of that community. Tulipamwe supports the concept of artistic growth and learning through interaction, sharing of knowledge and skills, and active participation. Therefore the workshop artist will be encouraged to work closely with local community artists during the residency. The workshop artist is also encouraged to respond to the local environment in his/her choice of theme, material and technique. Apart from covering the workshop artist’s accommodation, meals, transport and basic workshop materials, Tulipamwe offers a daily honorarium (fee) to the workshop artist. Depending on the outcome, selected artworks created at the workshop may be exhibited in a Windhoek gallery. The workshop artist will also be invited to offer a visual presentation of his/her work to artists, students and the general public, following the workshop. Digital or analog equipment will be available for this presentation. Application details: Only email applications will be considered. The following need to be submitted: * A brief Curriculum Vitae, detailing your training, specialization, exhibition record and workshop experience. * A letter motivating your intent * A recent photo of yourself * 5 jpeg images of your recent artworks, not older than 2 years. * NB: your email must not exceed 1MB, including attachments. If you cannot include everything in 1MB, please send more than one email.Application deadline: 5 February 2010For further information contact: Nicky nickyma@mweb.com.na or Hercules hviljoen@unam.na Website: http://www.artshost.org/tulipamwe

The Essence of Art

The following is a mini-essay by Zenzele Chulu one of our contributors.

Art is applicable in everyday life, society needs art all the time without realizing it. We need road signs for direction to move from street to street, town to town, place to place. We have digital billboards or murals, street and road names, house numbers and city planning involves design of roads , landscaping, public parks ,office blocks, housing and industrial. It took artists and designers to create the cloths we wear, the houses we live in, the car or bus or bicycle we use, all manmade items are conceived through design. We want our houses to be decorated with crafts and other artistic elements, rooms such as kitchens or sitting rooms come in color scheme. In fashion we want designer gowns, slippers, suits, skirts, shoes, including the art of cosmetics, life is artistic. Talk about uniforms used in all fields of human activity. Consumer products are designed to attract its customers with colourful packages.

Furthermore Art for art’s sake, contemporary paintings , sculptures, prints , drawings can be classified in many ways. Art as representation allows us to keep a record of life, reminding us of past events, emotions, beliefs, good or bad. Art as a means of communication means institutions have used art and artists to depict much needed information on issues that affect society on a large scale, creating murals, banners with visual messages ranging from human rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, child abuse or gender violence or inequalities, advocacy, war, corruption, sanitation, deforestation, including millennium development goals. Art has a beneficial impact on general literacy skills. Educators, psychologists and pedagogical theorists all agree that art benefits young peoples sensitivity to the physical environment, cognitive development as well as social and emotional development.

The more artistic an item is, the more it costs. So you see the design element influence in our daily lives is inescapable and unavoidable. In sports we need ‘state of the art’ infrastructures like stadiums, sports halls, racing tracks, design of team jerseys. Art is here to stay, society can exist live without these elements, hence the role of art in development is overwhelming. Artists have designed the traditional artifacts used in high ceremonies, they have for time immemorial designed the regalia of authority, design of symbols of power, the crown and throne for chiefs, kings , queens, princesses and all royalty of bygone civilizations and artists still design today’s symbols of power. Art in Africa has always been central to the needs of the society , traditionally seen to represent the cultural totems of that particular community in ceremonies and rituals from ancient days to the present day. Art has been an important medium of preserving cultural values.

The role of art as a witness of life around each community is evident in its quest of documenting social life cycle from a variety of angles. Visiting an art gallery is must option for tourists to have an insight of each society and its ways of life by looking at contemporary art. For those who are left behind by advanced people who can read and write, visual literacy provides a third way of learning and expression, it has the impact to give voices to those who are kept silent by established educational methods and encourages self expression. In countries such as Zambia, it also encourages self employment in the face of high unemployment, as most artists are either self taught or trained but live on art, through production of various arts and crafts.

The value of art as a means for communicating across cultural boundaries and as a vehicle for interrogating issues related to identity, culture, human rights and conflict resolution and social transformation is a very important function art has to society and in this case the depiction of the theme for this year’s Womens cerebration; Equal Rights , Equal Opportunities – Progress For All.


Kenneth Zenzele Chulu

Coordinator
Insakartists Trust