Kigozi prays for rain through art
Some of Kigozi’s art pieces. Courtesy PHOTOS
Resonating with the poetry on the first page of his catalogue, David Kigozi’s paintings displayed at Afriart Gallery in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb, late last month, are an emotional, nostalgic and psycho-physical trail of beauty of rain. Their multi-coloured outlook, both acrylic on canvas and mixed media, leave the eye longing for a drop from the sky.
Kale Kaaka (It is too hot). Gwaaka nemumpale, ngamba ensaawo (Shines in the pants, rather pockets) are three verses beginning the poetry in Luganda, with matching translations in English. All Seasons Begin with You reflects these ideas. This 84cm x 95cm painting is the face of a girl with a cheerful sun at the forefront, gleaming her face, yet darkeningly green and blue to the forehead and rare cheek. Her bright eye speaks life.
Kigozi says apart from recording events of the time, he looks at day-to-day things around him, surroundings, environment, and what he’s more attached to for inspiration. “My paintings are of chicken…kids; hoping the world sees their innocence, the turmoils of life…,” he intimates.
The journey through Etonnyeko (Let it rain) is manifest of his thoughts. Rain on Our Wedding Day shows an African bride with beads round her neck and head. Under that red umbrella, she does not seem to be too happy about it raining as an aura amidst the colours surrounding the unhappy bride shrives.
Rain Down In Bwaise definitely tackles the unbearable flooding situation in that part of Kampala; a cyclist peddling a passenger across the mess of water, with his legs raised to the back to avoid dirty splatters. The tyres are halfway submerged. Clock Tower studies traffic on that rainy day.
The verses “As it spoils the day play and trade, Let it rain patience and tolereance, Let it rain joy and hope” pretty sums up those pieces. Infusion of Luganda in Titles like Eryokanga Netonya, or the inscriptions of And God Said alluding to biblical scripture maintain his Ugandan heritage.
