Curator's Statement
Artists are the best life documentarists of all kinds of experiences human beings go through on a day to day basis. All the way through history, artists have responded to social concerns around them with artwork that depicts culture, religion, social injustice, human rights, environmental degradation and political power. Artists have used a variety of media such as: paint, photographs, pastels, sculpture and prints as extensions of their compassionate hearts and concerned minds to explore the aesthetics of interconnectedness and social responsibility. This is what this exhibition is all about.
Exhibition open to the public from 18th October to 18th November, 2024
Danny Lwando
He was born and raised in Mufulira of the Copperbelt of Zambia. His first experiences as an artists was when he entered his secondary education at Mufulira Secondary School. Later in 1998 he joined National Visual Arts Council which has helped him to advance in his art career.
He was privilege to go to Norway and UK for a photography fellowship in 2002. He won the 2009 Ngoma award for the best two dimensional category- the Henry Tayali award.
Lwando was the pioneer artists for a photography club which was an affiliate to Zambia National Visual Arts Council whose aim was to promote photography as a fine art tool among artists. He has coordinated and facilitated photography workshops organised by Zambia National Visual Arts Council, Insaka International Trust and the Lusaka National Museum.
From 2000 to 2012, He worked as a Darkroom Technician and Photographer for Zambia National Visual Arts Council. In 2018 he served as National Vice Secretary for National Visual Arts Council and served as a Board member for Zambia National Arts Council from 2017 to 2021. He now lives and work in Chongwe of Lusaka province as a full time visual artist.
Danny Lwando
Family Portrait 111
acrylic on canvas, 148 x 101cm
2024
Sydney K. Siansangu
Sydney’s works are in many private and public collections within Zambia, in Africa, Europe, Asia, The Americas and others. Notable amongst them are two mixed media sculptures under the title, ‘Our Legacy III and IV by President Hichilema to Pope Francis, February, 2022, that now forms part of the Vatican collection in the Vatican Museum. This highlight is a milestone in Sydney's artistic career.
Others include Presidential and Vice President's gift to Kamala Harris, US Vice President, the King of Morocco, Current president of Botswana, Mr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, Former Tanzania President, John Pombe Magufuli, a presidential gift by former Zambian President, Edgar C Lungu, Zambian Embassies in Beijing and London, the palace in Omen and The Speaker, Russian Parliament , The King of United Arab Emirates - A presidential gift by President Hakainde Hichilema, Presidential gift to Uhuru Kenyatta former President of Kenya, President of Namibia among others. Other notable public collections include ' Legacy II by Standard Chartered Bank HQ, Lusaka, A Sheltered Cross at the Vatican Embassy, Lusaka, Commissioned work for the Jesuit HQ in Africa and Madagascar, Nairobi, Kenya.
He works from home at his own private studio. Sydney is also holder of a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with Zambian Open University and currently teaches Art Munali Boys Secondary School in the Capital Lusaka. Sydney has for some time been working and engaging young and upcoming artists (sculptors) on apprenticeship at his Sima Studio space, Munali, Lusaka. Among them is Chilawa Kaluba, recipient of Best Male artist, National Award, December, 2022.
Sydney K Siansangu
Messenger of Hope 1
mixed media, 145cm x 65cm x 31.5cm
2024
Lombe Nsama
Lombe Nsama holds a Bachelors of Arts in Fine Art from the Zambian Open University and Diploma in Art Teaching from Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce, currently a teacher of Art and Design at Twin Palm Secondary School. He is the recipient of the Henry Tayali Award for best artist in Zambia in the National Arts Council of Zambia Ngoma Awards (2012). Serving as Chairperson for Zambia National Visual Arts Council. (2022-2024)
He has been a working artist and teacher for the past 15 years and is known for his vibrant, colorful artwork created by thick dubs of acrylic paint done with a pallet knife, of late he has started incorporating objects and old newspaper cut outs which complement and reinforce the images depicted.
Lombe Nsama’s lifelong goal is to contribute to a better understanding of cultural diversity by addressing the culture, history and experiences of women and children through his art. His work has been collected by so many patrons from around the world. He has exhibited extensively in Zambia, and other parts of the world.
I believe that there is a relationship between art and social behavior. My goal as an artist is to create artworks that are personal and which also express a sense of social responsibility by capturing the tender moments of daily activity.
As an expressionist, I use distortion and exaggeration for emotional effect. I apply vivid and value contrast. Merging abstraction, collage, simplification, and realism, I juxtapose and superimpose unlikely images of realism, icons, symbols and fantasy from history and the contemporary world to cultivate opportunities for the bending of meaning and the warping of time and place.
The collective is the primary focus in all my work. Individuals in my artwork are faceless because they are important only to the extent that they help define the group-the community interacting and participating in its many rituals, social settings, and group functions. I do not try to duplicate the surrounding authenticity. Instead, I grab and enlighten the mystery behind things. I attempt to depict not objective reality, but rather the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in me. Magical realism mashes up, transgresses, reforms and transforms ideas into my magical vision without losing sight of social, political, historical and aesthetic qualities.
Lombe Nsama
Fish and Tea
acrylic on canvas, 90 x 118cm
2024
Hours
Tuesdays to Saturdays 10:00-18:00;
Sundays 12:00-18:00
Address
The Gallery Office Park,
Plot 4015, Lagos Road,
Rhodes Park,
Lusaka,
Zambia.
Phone
+260 211 257256,
+260 766 633188