Youthful artist preaches unity, social cohesion through art

There are several attractive pieces of art adorning the walls of Niyo Art Center in Kacyiru. Among them are brilliant pieces done by artist Bertrand Ishimwe. Only in his early 20s, the youthful artist is showing his prodigy in visual art through a number of paintings that promote unity and social cohesion among Rwandans. One of them is Nd’Umunyarwanda (I am Rwandan), a 1x1/2m acrylic painting on canvas showing a group of people moving in one direction. He says that the main idea behind the painting is to show that even though each of us has his or her trait, we all share a common destiny. Ishimwe (left) poses with a fellow artist in front of one of his artworks at the gallery at Niyo Art Center in Kacyiru. The people are carrying aloft the Rwanda flag as they move shoulder to shoulder forward, some holding hands as a show of unity and fraternity. The message behind the painting, says Ishimwe, is that Rwandans are self-reliant people with a shared vision. “As a country, we’ve never been more united, helping each other to reconstruct our society that has suffered atrocities in the past. We should all move forward in one direction to achieve our dreams for the present and posterity,” he says of the art piece. Ishimwe adds that this painting was influenced by the fact that he is a youthful Rwandan who shares future aspirations of his peers and other Rwandans. “Being a Rwandan in itself is a responsibility and we all have the onus to rebuild what was damaged during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and change the course of history,” he says. Another compelling abstract piece is called I’m American. The US has established a reputation as a land of opportunity where people from all the corners of the world go to search for better life. The painting depicts countless people moving from all directions to achieve their vision. This vision is symbolized by one eye at the centre of the canvas. The canvas itself is emblazoned with messages like No Black, No White but One America; All Men Are Created Equal; In God We Trust; and Liberty among other liberal messages. The Stars and Stripes of the American flag are also painted with images of two eagles facing each other at the extreme ends of the canvas. The painting clearly depicts America’s moniker as A Land of Opportunity where people from all corners of the world flock to in search of the American Dream. “I’ve a lot of friends in America and this portrait is paying tribute to them,” explains Ishimwe. One of the many paintings by Ishimwe on display. Another eye-catching piece by the artist is a mix media piece called “The African Woman.” The piece depicts a curvaceous figure of the African woman, with an enlarged bust and thin waist balancing water on her head as she heads home from fetching water. The woman is dressed in Africa’s authentic attire of Kitenge and she ties a scarf on her head, showing her “Africanness.” “The African woman has the responsibility to work hard for the benefit of the family while at the same time maintaining her beauty,” explains the artist. He uses a technique called spatters, a unique kind of art where different colours of paints are scattered in small amounts on the canvas. Ishimwe says he fell in love with art when he was in Primary Four but took it seriously upon reaching Senior One when he could manage to sell some of his paintings. He says, through art, you bring out your imagination, something which doesn’t exist in real life. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Youthful artist preaches unity, social cohesion through art