Charity must begin at home for Kenyan art to survive to posterity

By KIUNDU WAWERU

Lydia Galavu, the Acting Art Curator at the National Museums of Kenya says the idea of exhibiting Kenyan art was to create awareness as Africa is lagging behind in terms of art investment.

"It’s is indeed a good idea to invest in our art, something we have not fully exploited. Other countries are buying our art and auctioning it for megabucks in their museums," says Galavu, herself an accomplished painter and sculptor.

She cites Magdalene Odundo, a Kenyan ceramist of repute who found her work in a British Museum, going for a price she could not afford herself!

"This shows that Kenyans have what it takes to make art of everlasting value. That’s why we need to put our artists in the limelight, even as we educate Kenyans."

Kiprop Lagat, the NMK Assistant Director, shares Galavu’s sentiments, saying that there is need to invest in art, as its value never depreciates.

"Having the seasoned artists exhibit at the Museum gives art lovers and collectors an opportunity to buy gems from our veteran creators," says Lagat, who has curated many exhibitions.

"Indeed," explains Galavu, "Most of the work showcased here in the 1980s went for paltry sums. Now it’s going for thousands of shillings."

detriment to art

Galavu says a number of art collectors are scouting for Kenyan artwork, usually for export.

The tragedy with tourist-driven art is that artists "photocopy" the paintings or sculptures in demand, to the detriment of their creativity.

But the ultimate tragedy lies in the fact that artists’ work is stored in other countries for posterity, and Kenyans may use those collections abroad as a reference point to our cultural evolution.

Conversely, foreigners shall become experts in our art, as has been the trend in the past, complete with their distortions and self-serving inaccuracies.