Bwabye – experimenting for unique art pieces

Like most artists would attest, Bwabye is sometimes influenced by his surroundings and what he goes through in life.

Malik Bwabye may not be a very popular Ugandan artist although he has been on the art scene for a while. Last month, he was one of the three artists that took part in a joint exhibition held at the Nakasero-based Nommo Gallery. He started professional Art in 2005 after leaving Kyambogo University. Since then, he has been painting and drawing and holding joint exhibitions. “I love experimenting,” he says.

This is true considering that many of his displayed pieces explore mixed media and he makes use of rare materials such as bark cloth, banana fibre and sisal. One such piece is “party goes on”. Here, he used mixed media in paper - sisal, banana fibre, canvas and bark cloth. He says he dwells on uniqueness because it sells in art.
“Clients want something unique. Texture also adds value,” Bwabye notes.

Like most artists would attest, Bwabye is sometimes influenced by his surroundings and what he goes through in life.

Take, for instance, “First kiss”, an acrylic on bark cloth painting he says was inspired by a personal experience although he severed ties with that person long ago. He experimented with new material on this piece. He was reflecting on his first kiss that happened way back.

Speaking about “Independent observer”, a painting with a woman in a long gaze seemingly at the future, Bwabye says it is about a woman who foresees everything. “The brilliant colours and one side being taller than the other explains why politics is never a direct thin,” he argues.

Other pieces include “one of those days” depicting two females and a male friend as well as “Malwa party” inspired by what he sees in the suburbs. “I don’t take the drink, but I have friends who do and I see people drinking it,” he says of the acrylic on converse piece.
About“girlfriends”, (acrylics and paper) which depicts three jolly girls going about their businesses. Bwabye says he actually saw young girls jolly and walking together before coming up with the painting.

His other interesting pieces include “self-portrait”, these are two pieces depicting gorilla’s passport size pictures. With these, he used ink, water colours on paper.

About MAlik Bwabye
Malik Bwabye’s pieces range from Shs150,000 to Shs800,000. Other pieces are paintings of oil on canvas dubbed “still life” and “struggle continues” which depicts women going to the well to fetch water. The show at Nommo gallery may have ended last week but it brought to the fore another artist worthy of your support. You could bump into him at the forth coming La-ba street art festival.

jkatende@ug.nationmedia.com