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Sunday, November 08, 2009
Through a mixture of textures, colours and several media, artist Mazola Wa Mwashighadi showcases his work at the first in the Friday series of Art in the Heart of Kingston exhibitions planned by the Spanish Court Hotel as a vehicle for novice artists to display their work to hotel guests and the general public.
Mazola opened the Art in the Heart of Kingston series with over 15 multimedia pieces inspired by religion, history and movement. Each piece is an interesting combination of colour and texture, which derived from Mazola's love of experimentation. "I just be free and let it flow," he admits.
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The Kenyan artist first came to Jamaica in 1997, as a result of his winning the Commonwealth Art and Craft Award, which was tenable at the Edna Manley College. Here he pursued an eight-month course in sculpture. He returned home upon graduation but would find his way back to Jamaica in 2000, explaining to SO that " the vibe is nice and I'm able to express myself as I wish throughout my work... Here I just do art, I'm not inhibited; I am free to play around with it. Most artists in Kenya focus on one specific type of art, but since I'm not held by boundaries I simply let it flow." That he certainly does, leaving the art enthusiast with a title but freedom of interpretation. Each piece of the collection evokes the feeling of movement with a distinct sense of texture and dimension, created by paints, handmade papers or both. The themes show influences of Muslim culture, architecture and religion, vivid memories from his hometown of Mombasa, Kenya.
Mazola explains that "when inspiration knocks you go for your tools". The artist shares a story of leaving his girlfriend in bed at 4 o'clock in the morning to go to the studio. That night he created Two to the Power of One (his girlfriend understands work is work, he says).
The working artist has had solo exhibits in Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbados, and also has participated in group shows in Jamaica, Kenya, Trinidad, Italy, Bangladesh, UK and the USA. Mazola has also received awards in London, Africa and Jamaica.
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