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Hugeaux and artists collaboration. Permission Granted.

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Hugeaux and artists collaboration.

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Part - 2

V) Abdi-Noor Mohamed
S O M A L I A

Life is a series of joy and sorrow. But it is all joy when you are at the beaches of East Africa. Afirca has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world but most of them, like those in Somalia have been abandoned due to war and strife raging across the continent. What a pity!


Beaches of East Africa
Where love thrives
And the birds glide

Beaches of live
Where water glare
And souls absorbed

Beaches of love
Where waves surge
And the winds soothe

Beaches of pleasure
Where life is joy
And joy is life

Beaches of delight
Where waves kiss
And sand shines

Beaches of inspiration
Where minds breathe
And words are born

Beaches of respect
Where old and young

Share a heart of love

Beaches of happiness
Where riches are plenty
And beauty is a bounty

Share a heart of love

Beaches of happiness
Where riches are plenty
And beauty is a bounty

VI) Sultan Mohamed:
An African Odyssey, From Here to There and Back Again

Sultan Mohamed, a contemporary Ethiopian artist, was born in Addis Ababa but has made Seattle, Washington his home since 1982 when he came to the United States to attend school and escape Ethiopia’s civil unrest.

Sultan’s work is highly influenced by his memories and longing for the country, family and friends that he left behind. A common thread that runs throughout much of his work is personal and focuses on kinship, friendship and family. Over the last several years, the tenor of Sultan’s work has broadened beyond just personal and touches on the historical, social, and political issues of the past and present of his homeland, Ethiopia, his new found home, America, and the world at large. The ideas and themes in these pieces transcend all cultures and remind us that people are more alike than different and how intertwined we all are here on earth.

Sultan’s artwork incorporates the old with the new and brings forth a shimmering and proud sense of his Ethiopian heritage that generously pours forth both vibrant color and energy onto the canvas for us to view. His work brings home the link that makes his African heritage both powerful and thought provoking. Although Sultan primarily studied Western art during his university coursework, his work embraces the use of the traditional Ethiopian art form reflected by his use of the human figure, colors, lines, shapes and cultural symbols.

Sultan happily travels back to Ethiopia on a frequent basis now to study art and visit family and friends. He is currently working as an art teacher for the Seattle Public School District, is a freelance artist, and a contributing member of the Columbia City Art Gallery, Seattle, WA. Sultan wrote and illustrated the book “The Story of Coffee” and in 2004 it was published by Ananse Press. His artwork has been shown throughout the USA, Canada, and Africa, and has been published in magazines, journals, poetry publications, cookbooks, and African history textbooks.


In 2007 Sultan founded the non profit East African Art and Cultural Association (EAACA) which promotes teaching art, visual graphics, photography, and video editing to East African youth in the Seattle community. In 2008 EAACA won a grant from the Bill Wright Technology fund with the City of Seattle. In 1998 Sultan won the prestigious Lab School of Washington, D.C and Robert Rauschenberg’s “Power of Art” teaching award.


VII) Ali Halani
This sculptural piece is among a series of sculptural forms that was inspired by shapes derived from organic origin.
My work is influenced by objects that I find interesting or encounter coincidentally, mainly fossils, seeds, shells, and rocks.
Sometimes these shapes have mysterious and inexplicable structures that are bewildering and enigmatic in nature.
With that framework of mind, I approach these shapes in a manner in which I don’t compromise their integrity and originality.
I integrate my past experiences with the new experience of creating the work, and that produces a work with a new habitat and definition.

VIII) David Kibuuka:
While influential 20th century Europeans such as Picasso and Moore borrowed from traditional African art forms.Africans such as David Kibuuka have been influenced by masters of traditional African art and contemporary Western art. Combining these diverse ingredients to form innovative blends of techniques. Born in Uganda, Kibuuka was a blossoming prodigy who began selling his painting through local galleries at age 11. Protege to his brilliant late mentor and older brother Henry Lutalo Lumu, the artist shared a passion for the works of European art masters. From Henry, Kibuuka learned a deep respect for the achievements of realists such as Rembrandt, da Vinci, Rafael, and Michelangelo. This early passion found Kibuuka creating works such as 'The Royal Guardian' - In this work, exquisite anatomical details capture the regal stature of a Maasai warrior. Spending six years in Kenya, Kibuuka made this legendary tribe a favorite subject for his early work executed in High Renaissance-styled realism.

As Henry exposed him to more modern western styles, Kibuuka evolved to include impressionism and surrealism, infusing his deep love of human anatomy and natural form with a vibrant new energy. One result of this evolution is 'Ceremonial Dance'. In this striking piece, a group of young Maasai warriors dance proudly in precisely unified fragments of bold primary colours.Although Kibuuka is equally fluent in oils, acrylics, watercolors, pencil, a favorite medium has emerged. "I love the versatility of Wax and dyes on fabric.

Origins

Kibuuka's Art: Historical Origins

Early Mankind in Uganda ( East Africa )

Archaeological evidence for mankind's presence within the equatorial region of Uganda can be traced to over 150,000 years BC. Tools and artifacts suggest that modern man settled here since 10,000 BC, and local cultures developed by 1500 BC. Between AD 500 and 1500 migrations across the continent appear to have given this region a cross section of peoples originating from many places on the continent. From other parts of Africa, Bantu-speaking peoples arrived and settled here. Numerous kingdoms were formed by individualized peoples with unique combinations of genetic makeup, language, customs, and principle food types.

Assemblages of Culture

About AD1300, migrants from what is now Ethiopia and Sudan, thought to be possibly of Hamitic or Luo origin settled here and joined Bantu-speaking groups from Busoga in the east and Bunyoro from the west. During this period historical records indicate several groups coalesced into what is now referred to as the Baganda Kingdom, Uganda's largest ethnic group.

The Lumu Clan

Kibuuka's family has remained within the Buganda Kingdom for multiple generations, tracing its lineage to a great, great, great, grandfather, Zimbe, born in the early 1700's. Zimbe's son, Kuuma Omwami, fathered Kibuuka's great grandfather, Matayo Bossa, grandfather to Kibuuka's father, Nakemeya Lumu. Lumu's wife, Kabasindi Kajoka, bore him 11 children, 4 boys, 7 girls Henry Lutalo Lumu, 4th and David Kibuuka Lumu, 11th.