Exhibitions

MARTINA PETROLL | TOM ONEYA ‘IDENTITY’ is the first solo exhibition by the German born artist Martina Petroll in Kenya but she decided to collaborate with Tom Oneya to compliment the exhibition with sculptures that relate with the exhibition. The show presents more than 30 unpublished works, divided into three distinct nuclei. Among this is the artists most recent works which give the exhibition its name.‘IDENTITY-seeking Real Identity’ stems from the artists growing interest in the lack of identity in the current world where most people are defined by technology, economic status, classism and religion. People mostly identify themselves through names, gender, profession, wealth etc. while the real identity can only be found within. The exhibition creates space or interpretation by inviting the audience to engage with the artworks and resonate with the colors and forms.Transversally, Martina Petroll well known as Art Tina combines abstract and realism styles to create a diverse and rich body of painiting works as well as collages and installations. On the other hand, Tom Oneya creates expressive sculptures from various mediums which mostly depict African culture conservation and everyday life scenarios. These gives the exhibition a diverse view of subject matter.  

Curated by Benjamin Livoi and Raphael Muchomba, the art show hosted paintings, sculptures, mosaics, multimedia, and collages from over 20 artists from Kenya and Uganda. The show with its rich mix of colors, formsand styles, emphasizes how visual art from different African cultures, religions and lifestyles, can come together and communicate a common language/ theme even when the artists interpret the subject from a different perspective, ethnic background, race and age group. In the selection of the artworks, the selection panel fused style of each artist and the individual technique together in a short but truly African art collaboration.  

The inaugural Visions of Time exhibition opens on 23rd Augusts and highlights a wide range of tipics including the life story of the artist having been brought up in the biggest slums of Kenya as well as girl life and mental health issues. He quotes ‘growing up in the slum had never been easy due to the poor sanitation, drug abuse, crime, unemployment and depression. The huge part of the population of Kibera are youth and the best way to express themselves and have their voices heard was through their talents mostly through sports, music and art.” Running through November, this exhibition co curated by Benjamin Livoi and Sally Otieno, highlights several topics including the slum life, Gril Child, Mama mboga, Mental Health and Early Child Pregnancy. Through diverse media -painting, sculpture, and installation- Art Benny contribute a dynamic dialogue that connects the Kenyan life view to a broader global audience.

Raphael Muchoma | Benjamin Livoi ‘ELEMENTS WITHIN  seeks to explore: our daily life, the people, our joy, sorrow, compassion, hatred, pride, abundance, poverty, success, beliefs, culture, norms, bliss, concern, kindness, indifference, modernity, tradition, a study into humanity and our juxtaposition in the cycle of civilization.’