Kanyaburanga Art Centre, the newest art space opens in Kigali

An imposing stone installation made out of pebbles held together by wire mesh stands conspicuously at the entrance to the new Kanyaburanga Art Centre in Sonatubes, Kicukiro. The pebbles are embellished with colorful bits and pieces of scrap metal. Beautiful flowers blossom out of flower vases curved into the top of the installation. Getting past the graffiti-filled gate, one is greeted by more art works that depict the artist Ntagara Djamal’s close connection to the environment and nature conservation. There are flower vases fashioned out of disused materials like women’s handbags and computer monitors. More recyclable art can be seen in some of the installations made out of collectibles like old keys and coins. “Kanyaburanga is a Kinyarwanda word which means a small beautiful place. It can also mean a small attractive or artistic place,” said Ntagara Djamal, the brains behind the artistic space. Three months after he curved the space out of a residential house below the Classic Hotel in Kicukiro, the artist is ready to officially unveil it to the public. The opening ceremony is slated for March 31. Before creating his own artistic space, Ntagara plied his artistic trade from the former Uburanga Arts Studio in Kimihurura. A recyclabe art piece depicting a crocodile. He joined Uburanga in 2014. “Uburanga is where I got inspiration but I already had art in me. While at Uburanga I learnt exactly what art is and how it’s done from a professional perspective.” However, Uburanga closed to business in 2016 following the relocation of the founder, Bosco Bakunzi, to Canada. It is at this point that he went solo. “When I left that place, I didn’t go to another art gallery. Uburanga closed at a point when art was forcing me to do it, not me forcing myself to do art. So I kept doing it. I also got the support of a restaurant that allowed me to display my art pieces for sale. This made me not to give up on my art.” Soon, however, the inspiration struck the artist to set up base. “I got inspiration for the name one time while visiting at my father’s place. He gave me a small room in the servant’s quarters and told me to use it as my small gallery. I invested in it, although it was too small and also my father’s place. But I knew that although it was small I had to make it beautiful.” Although he started out solo, Ntagara has since taken two budding artists under his wing; Mike Katihabwa, and Shemsa Neza. His wish is to work with more local artists, both established and up-and-coming “to make Kanyaburanga Art Centre the best it can be”. His two apprentices are responsible for the more touristy pieces depicting the country’s flora and fauna, while Ntagara’s pieces stretch further to cover portraiture, recyclable art, and social commentary. Titled ‘Migration’, this painting depicts rural urban migration. One of the pieces is titled ‘Migration’. “In this piece I’m trying to show my perspective on migration. I’m showing how people are always drawn to cities for different reasons. Most people prefer to migrate from rural areas to cities, and not vice versa. “I’m showing the disadvantages and challenges that these people face when they get to the city – that’s full of houses and little natural life like trees and animals or birds. It’s only buildings.” About the upcoming official launch he says: “March 31 is the date we chose to open our gates to the public and welcome people to see our art and creativity. There is no big show apart from showing people art and introducing ourselves to the public.” Portaits at Kaanyaburanga Arts Centre. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Kanyaburanga Art Centre, the newest art space opens in Kigali