Grim picture as artists told JKIA fire burnt paintings

By Mbugua Ngunjiri

Artists are waking up from the reality that the JKIA fire might have consumed their prized collections.

Of the valuables that were lost in the fierce fire, artworks and other collectibles did not feature anywhere in the list of ‘important’ items, at least in the minds of most Nairobians. This probably betrays the attitude towards art.

Yet, these paintings form part of the collective visual, which travellers passing through the airport associate with Kenya.

Any artists will tell you that an original piece of artwork can never be replicated.

This is the predicament Adrian Nduma finds himself.

Ten of his pieces, which were on display in the Kenya Airways Pride Lounge, were destroyed in the fire.

Unlike other paintings at the two lounges, Pride and Simba, which were the property of KQ, Nduma’s paintings were exhibits for sale. “We had an arrangement with KQ, whereby my paintings would be exhibited in their lounges, for aesthetic value,” Nduma said.

“The arrangement was such that if travellers like the paintings, KQ would sell them on my behalf and remit the money.”

The airline, he said, was supposed to provide security for the pieces.

Other paintings consumed by the fire belonged to Kamal Shah and Yoni Waite. These ones, however, were the property of KQ as the airline had bought them from the artists.

In the Kenyan visual art circles, Nduma’s works comes second to Brush Wanyu in terms of value.

Nduma told The Nairobian that his pieces fetch anywhere between Sh70,000 and Sh3 million.

Nduma had not known about the fate of his art pieces until a friend flew in from abroad and called to tell him that his collection was among the casualties of the fire.

“I have written an email to KQ trying to establish their view of things and I am now waiting for a response,” said Nduma , who has retained the services of a lawyer just in case the negotiations get tricky.

With this case, Nduma will be entering the uncharted territory of compensation of artifacts.

KQ, just like Nduma, is counting loses incurred during the fire.

When he spoke to the media, KQ MD Titus Naikuni said the airline had lost revenues of up to Sh300 million as a result of the fire.

Kepha Bosire, the KQ spokesman, said since this is a contractual issue, Nduma needs to get in touch with the airline with a formal inquiry so that the matter can be expedited.

City lawyer John Kariuki told The Nairobian: “It all boils down to the contract that was arrived at between the artist and the airline. Under the law of torts, it should be established under whose care the pieces had been entrusted.”