‘LUMIIMAMAWUGWE’, An Exhibition by Xenson, Opens on 6th November

Lumiimamawugwe is Xenson’s reaction to the covid19 pandemic. During the first few days of the pandemic, as he went through his sketch book, he found sketches of portraits in masks and they were signed in 2015. Although he could not immediately remember the inspiration behind the sketches, he remembered seeing some Chinese wearing masks around 2014 in down town Kampala. But also recalled going to kabale where the air and the smell was so clean and refreshing as compared to cosmopolitan Kampala. This in a way it triggered a series of drawings and Ideas.

As the lock down progressed different terminologies were used to refer to the pandemic. “Senyigaomukwabwe”and”Lumiimamawugwe”, were terms used mainly by presenters of radio Simba and Central broad casting services. Xenson picked great interest in the terminology LumiimaMawugwe as he found it deeply poetic but also politically charged. Amidst the 2020 elections season and eventual violence that marked the election LumiimaMawugwe became the definitive reflection of the perilous nature of the election

The abstract could not have been timely. Many people especially in west lost their lives due to Covid19 but also many opposing youth in Uganda found themselves behind bars, how Ironic! The pandemic became the difficult face of the election season. As part of the Standard Operation Procedures, economically, socially and spiritually the face mask became the new Talisman.

Before the pandemic, Xenson was ready to release his live in studio sophomore album; Yaaye. Amidst the helplessness and hopelessness, the song Bugulumu caught his ear. Its cadence and emotional delivery conjures the ultimate remedy in the trying times.

Bugulumu is the equitsential inspirational song off the Yaaye album that embodies a therapeutical message that seeks to provide comfort and hope in these traumatic and depressing times.

LumiimaMawugwe exhibition will open on 6th November 2021 to 14th January 2022 at Xenson Art space from 10am to 5pm.

As the saying goes; Art is a reflection of our society and our community and through this exhibition we shall all share the tales and reflect on the impact of Lumiimamawugwe in our families and community and how we are the remnants.

Xenson (Samson Ssenkaaba) is a multi–‐media artist who interrogates contemporary issues through a synergy of; installations, videos, performance, poetry, fashion and paintings.

He is the founder of Xenson Art Space; a multidisciplinary curated art space aimed at nurturing the new creative generation; providing a space for the artists to exhibit and showcase their work.

Xenson graduated with first class honors in painting and Graphic Design from the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts at Makerere University. He enrolled on government sponsorship to pursue engineering but later changed his course to Industrial and fine art.

His practice since then has spanned the mediums of music, poetry, fashion and visual art taking part in exhibitions and residencies worldwide; in countries like Germany, Scotland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, France, South Africa, Seychelles, USA, Niger, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda. His work is widely collected in many private and public collections including the Scottish museum and Minneapolis museum of art.

For more information:

Email: xensonart@gmail.com

Contact: +256700318863

satisfashionug@gmail.com