By Ogova Ondego
Published November 7, 2013
An art exhibition dubbed Mwanamke ni Effort has opened at Nairobi National Museum (NNM)’s Creativity Gallery and runs through November 30, 2013. Featuring the work of 25-year-old James Njoroge, it opens 8.30am to 5.30pm daily.
The work of Njoroge, who took the fourth position in the National Heritage Art Competition for youth 18 –Â 25 years organised by National Museums of Kenya in 2012, is figurative with a striking vibrant coordination of form, colour and texture that is pleasant to the eye.
The theme of the competition was ‘Experiencing Kenyan Heritage through Art’ with the aim of not only promoting talent in young citizens but also emphasising the role of art as one of the critical ingredients in the definition of the Kenyan heritage and identity.
The 4th position prize, a solo exhibition at Creativity Gallery of NNM, gave Njoroge, who was then still a student of Fine Art at Kenyatta University, mileage in the world of professional art.
“During the last weeks of his preparation for the exhibition,” NNM says in a statement, “James Njoroge worked under the professional guidance of Iroko Arts Consultancy’s director and curator, Oluwatosin Onile-ere Rotimi, who remolded much of the young artist’s initial amateur approach with solid studies and compositions. The result is an exhibition that is engaging, entertaining and educative.”
The statement adds that Njoroge “has done the prize and the National Museums of Kenya proud a year kater; that the body of work he has put together for his exhibition, Mwanamke ni Effort, is impressive and demonstrates a high level of commitment and hard work.”
The exhibition, whose Sheng title means woman is effort, is dedicated to the invaluable contribution of women to society.
