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From what others dismiss as trash, Mugalu mints cash
Some of Edson Mugalu’s eye-catching pieces of paintings which can be viewed at his ongoing exhibition, Trash to cash at AKA Gallery. PHOTO BY JUDE KATENDE
What you need to know:
Giving nature an artistic look. Most of Edson Mugalu’s art work depicts nature. He also keeps nature at its best by ridding it of trash and rewarding it with fascinating views through his paintings.
Edson Mugalu is a renowned Ugandan artist whose longevity in the game is best told through his pieces. Some of those eye-catching pieces can be viewed at his ongoing exhibition, “Trash to cash” at AKA Gallery, opposite Crested Towers.
Using mixed media, acrylics on canvas and collage for his paintings, Mugalu comes up with interesting works, including some that can be hung on the wall or at an office desk as decoration.
The artist seems to have fallen in love with cattle horns as most of his pieces are inspired by horns.
“Beauty of Ankole 1&2” (small decorations), “Masai teen 1&2” and “Back home” depict real animals. Though some paintings don’t depict real animals, they still have the cattle horns in them, for instance “Three friends”, “Warmth and togetherness” and “Enjoying quietness”.
On Ankole cattle, Mugalu says it is one of his recent inspirations.
“In the past, I was fascinated with painting people in water, now it is the Ankole cattle horns. There is a way these horns fascinate me,” Mugalu explains.
But it is not all about cattle for those who may not like these animals, Mugalu was inspired by other creations as well. His nice bird inspired paintings include “The silent park”, “Melody and harmony”, “Back home” and “A view from home”.
“Walk in the park” is an elephant inspired piece. I think it will be safe to say that Mugalu was largely inspired by nature in his current exhibition.
How he came up with the title
Mugalu says he used several cuttings from “trashed” magazines and mixed them up with his paintings which he later sells off thus the cash link. In fact, when you look around, some of his pieces, especially the collage ones, have this medium coming out elaborately.
The “Trash to Cash” exhibition ends on September 6.
Who is Mugalu?
Born in Kayunga District in 1983, Mugalu says he is a full time artist without the advantage of university training. He was trained by friends or self-taught as some people prefer to call it. His constant interaction with fellow professional artists has helped him further his art. He has held several exhibitions in Kampala, USA, and participated in over 35 group shows in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, UK and Australia.
