This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
Kenyan Art Takes Center Stage ¶
On July 26, 2019, Nairobi's Westlands' Peponi Court hosted a groundbreaking exhibition that put Kenyan art on par with the world's finest. 'Behind this Face: The Human Face Evolution in Painting' showcased the works of local artists alongside those of international masters like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Leonardo da Vinci.
GravitArt founder Veronica Paradinas Duro curated the exhibition, which featured 11 Kenyan artists, including Anthony Okello, Boniface Maina, and Elias Mung'ora. The show also included works by Pan-African artists from Sudan and Ethiopia.
What made this exhibition unique was the way Veronica and her team compared local artists with internationally acclaimed painters. They identified similarities between Boniface and Salvador Dali, Lincoln with Rene Magritte, and Elungat with Gustav Klimt.
One of the most striking comparisons was between Elias Mung'ora's paintings of ordinary working people and local street scenes and those of American realist Edward Hopper. Both artists are known for their clear-sighted style, yet their images are distinctive and easily recognizable.
The exhibition was a revelatory experience that highlighted the unity of artistic expression across time and space. It was a testament to the talent and creativity of Kenyan artists and their ability to hold their own alongside the world's greatest painters.
