This archive report was first published on 1 September 2019.
On display at the Nairobi National Museum is a unique exhibition of stone carvings, featuring endangered wildlife such as elephants and rhinos. The exhibition, titled Nearly Extinct: Elephants and Rhinos, is the brainchild of Kenyan art aficionado Mutuma Marangu.
Marangu, who believes in bridging artistic and cultural sectors with wildlife and conservation, engaged the services of renowned wood and stone sculptors Charles Duke Kombo, Peter Kenyan, Robin Okeyo Mbera, and Gerard Mtondi Oroo to create the stunning pieces.
"I believe there is a need to bridge artistic and cultural sectors with wildlife and conservation," Marangu said, highlighting the importance of his project.
The exhibition features medium-sized elephant and rhino figures carved from different rocks and buffed to a smooth exterior. The carvings showcase the natural beauty of the stones, which have unique markings and colours.
Among the notable pieces on display is Elephant Kingdom, carved by Mbera from dark brown silicate stone, and Tsavo Tusk I, produced by Oroo from creamy white soapstone. Oendo created Rhino Horn from green basalt stone and Sleeping Elephant from pumice magma.
The exhibition also features petrified wood, which has a mottled brown and bronze colouration. This fascinating material comes from the semi-desert region of Lake Turkana, where volcanic actions preserved the remains of trees into fossilised material.
Two or three elephants are carved from deep purple amethyst stone, while a small abstract rhino is sculpted from bluelace agate, an unusual stone of a sky blue colour with blotches of light brown.
The exhibition is on display until October 31, and more pieces are expected as the museum creates suitable plinths for statues weighing up to 40kg.
