This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
On a sunny Saturday morning in July 2019, Nairobi's Railway Museum came alive with the vibrant colors of graffiti art. The BSQ (Bomb Squad) group, a trio of talented artists, had transformed a train car into a studio and art gallery, inviting the public to participate in creating a mural.
BSQ artists Brian 'Msale' Musasia, Kenneth 'K-Mist4' Otieno, and Bebetu 'Thufu B' Ochieng had been working tirelessly to create a space where art and community could come together. 'We invited the public to try using everything from paint and brush to spray paint and airbrush,' Msale explained.
The exhibition, which ran from July 13 to August 3, 2019, featured the work of BSQ and other graffiti artists, including Swift Elegwa, Kerosh Kiruri, Stickky Muriithi, Chela Chewron, and Eljah Mutua. The artists had spent time at the Dust Depo Art Studio, mentored by Patrick Mukabi, who had played a significant role in nurturing the graffiti art movement in Kenya.
Msale, a graduate of fine art from Kenyatta University, emphasized the importance of showcasing graffiti art as a legitimate form of fine art. 'We wanted to show how graffiti art can be transformed into fine art,' he said.
The exhibition was a huge success, attracting a diverse crowd of art enthusiasts, students, and professionals. It also marked a significant milestone in the growth of Nairobi's graffiti art scene, which had been popularized by street artists like Bankslave, Swift, and many others.
As the exhibition came to a close, BSQ and the other artists had already begun planning their next project. 'We'll invite the public again to leave their mark on the BSQ car at the closing of our show on August 3,' Msale promised.
