By Iminza Keboge
Published October 8, 2021
National Museums of Kenya (NMK) invites all lovers of culture and visual art to its latest exhibition titled Marejeo: Renaissance of a Vision 11 at Nairobi Gallery at the junction of Kenyatta Avenue and Uhuru Highway in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Running October 1-December 31, 2021, this is one of the many series of exhibitions NMK says it is ‘hosting and curating as a precursor to the launch of the National Art Gallery of Kenya (NAGOK)’. The aim, NMK says, ‘is to provide a platform for dialogue on the need for NAGOK and a glimpse of what to expect once NAGOK is open to the public: a combination of Kenya’s finest contemporary artists, in addition to historically significant pieces from NMK permanent collection’.
RELATED: Nomadic Turkana-Inspired Art Exhibition Comes to Nairobi National Museum
The first exhibition in this series, titled ‘Marejeo: Renaissance of a Vision’, ran July 8 – August 8, 2021 as part of a project NMK says was funded by the government of Kenya to celebrate the International year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.
Saying the show included an artists residency that brought 40 emerging young artists from 26 of Kenya’s 47 administrative units known as counties, NMK says the ‘young artists were mentored by pioneer Kenyan contemporary artists who led the most significant campaign in Kenya for a national art gallery between 1979 to 1981’.
RELATED: Leading Film Festival Changes Format and Dates
The exhibition, NMK says, included artworks from the residency from this residency alongside works by pioneer artists and selected works from NMK’s permanent collection.
The second in NMK’s series of NAGOK exhibitions, Kesho Kutwa, launched on September 20, runs through October 15, 2021.
RELATED: Humour and Light-Hearted Debate Reign at Nairobi’s Premier Critical Film Gathering
Marejeo: Renaissance of a Vision 11 showcases pioneer artists Kibacia Gatu, Zarina Patel, Haajambi Kangára, Sukuro Etale and collections in The Nairobi Gallery from artists like Annabelle Reeno and Elkana Ongesa.
The exhibition is organised by National Visual Arts Organising Committee, Department of Culture, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, and NMK.
