Gunflowermask exhibition by Xenson which was curated by Jennifer Mpyisi is a living experience as reminisced by the people who attended the opening on 1st September at Afriart gallery on Seventh Street
Xenson is a multi-talented artist known for his graffiti on the walls of Kampala and couture fashion recognized on the international scene. He put up a solo exhibition to highlight most of his talents and works dubbed the Gunflowermask exhibition.
From the gallery compound our eyes met with one of his installation called Bumbuzi, mounted on top the of the gallery wall. As we entered the gallery his achilleic bags and another installation of young children going to heaven welcomed us. While still bewildered with this creativity, our eyes are delighted by his photography which by the way is the first time he is exhibiting this form of art inspired by the Mask of Kibuuka Omumbale. This series of photography is called MOKO
Everyone in the gallery at this point is simply exclaiming at the extraordinary craftsmanship being exhibited. Xenson’s installation of Kibuuka Omumbale is out of this world, it makes you wonder how one person can think of all this, create it and give it life.
The art works have their own life and invite you in to have your own interpretation and dwell in the beauty and sophistication, technicality of the works.
We caught up with Jennifer Mpyisi, the curator for Gunflowermask Exhibition and she shared with us her interpretation of the exhibition.
Jennifer highlights that Deconstruction And Construction are Evident In This Series. Gun, Is Portrayed In The Works, As Symbolic References To Power, But Without Violence; Flowers Present the Joyful, Playful Colourful, Simplicity of the Perennial Growth while the Mask Is the Tool, The Character that hides oneself to Protect their Obscured Identity . So Art as Intervention, is Presented in a theatrical narrative.
Jennifer further explains that the Installations Are Part of a Set Design: A Central Piece of a Stage. We The Viewers Are The Actors Unmasked. The Mask, a Veil, Removes Sentiment and Personalization and we all Wear One. Flowers Remind Us That Nature Will Continue to Thrive In spite Of Our Actions. From this discussion she gives us another view of the interpretation of the works about a Reminder Of The Fields Of Poppies During The First World War , These Flowers are a Symbolic Remembrance Of Justice And Injustice, Uncommon Bravery, Positions, And Intolerance, which brought about a wave of Migration And Immigration , The Spoils Of War. The Transformative Narrative Materials used are Common Tires. Their Use Becomes Directed Imagery: Recording and Capturing Moments, Circular Spiral Gestures. At The Heart Of This Dialogue Is an Investigation, A Series Of Interrogations Underscoring Social, Political, Economic, Issues.
The Gunflowermask exhibition will go on until 30th November at Afriart gallery 7th Street. You need to go and have your own experience and also own a xenson art piece . To access the gallery you have to part with 20,000/= only.
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