Artist Talk: Alex Njoroge and Mosoti Kepha talk about “Bar Conversations”
Alex Andrew Njoroge holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Nairobi. He decided to follow passion for art, choosing to become a professional artist in 2006. He has exhibited extensively in Nairobi, at Nairobi National Museum, Kuona Trust and Banana Hill Art Gallery. He has also attended the Nafasi Residence Program in Tanzania. He is currently based at Kuona Trust.
Mosoti Kepha was born in Kisii, Kenya and studied at the Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts. His work consists of semi-abstract paintings and mixed media sculptures that are mainly a combination of wood, metal and wires. He is inspired by shapes and objects and enjoys the connection that all these bring in his work. Since 2008, Mosoti has had his work exhibited in a number of galleries such as the Goethe Institute, Ramoma Art Gallery, The GoDown Art Center, The Nairobi National Museum, Alliance Française.
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About the Show
“As the men ate and drank palm-wine they talked about the customs of their neighbors.” – Chinua Achebe in Things Fall Apart
Bar Conversations is about the discussions over daily life, disappointments and dreams, carried out once liquid lubricant is introduced. These conversations are often littered with neighbourhood gossip, politics and for some, they are a form of therapy. Some find peers, while others find escape from the daily grind. In bars, problems are created and for others, solutions are found. In his work, created from cut and burned strips of beer cans, Alex Njoroge explores what people speak about when their guard is down. Using his own experiences, Njoroge tackles various ideas ranging from love to responsibility.
It is said that one can tell alot about a person by the shoes that they wear. Mosoti Kepha, breathes life to pinewood in his ultra-realistic wood carvings. In this show, Mosoti’s pieces are a metaphor for the lives lived by the patrons of a bar.