Jjuuko Hoods’ Herd of Hyena at FONNAP’S artwork public sale, at Muthaiga in Nairobi on February 4, 2023. PHOTO | POOL

Mates of Nairobi Nationwide Park (FONNaP) held a day-long artwork exhibition final Friday at Spinners Internet in Kitisuru, Nairobi.

The sunshine-filled show preceded the artwork exhibition and public sale held the next Saturday evening at Muthaiga Membership the place funds had been raised in support of the Mates’ initiatives to advertise and protect the Nationwide Park.

“There’s nowhere else on the earth the place you possibly can drive down the street and see ostriches, zebra, and elephants strolling by besides in Nairobi,” John Butler Jr, an enthusiastic volunteer with FONNaP, tells the BDLife.

The 2-tier exhibition was curated by a long-time member of the group, Philippa Crosland-Taylor, and William Ndwiga of The Little Artwork Gallery.

It was two-tiered within the sense that Friday’s exhibition was held in two separate but adjoining rooms, one with the artworks for present and instant sale, the opposite completely crammed with works that may very well be seen however not purchased till the next day when the bidding opened up and Philippa served because the night’s auctioneer.

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She was a clever alternative for the half since, regardless of her by no means having auctioneered earlier than, she had beforehand attended a large number of auctions, each right here and overseas.

What’s extra, she can be dedicated to each the park and effective artwork, so she had the keenness required to persuade pals and their company to make their bids for this worthy trigger.

It labored normally, however even the place it didn’t, she made the night an effervescent affair.

It was enhanced by a musical interlude that featured Eddie Gray on guitar and the internationally acclaimed percussionist Sven Kacirek.

However the large concern was the public sale.

Patrick Kinuthia’s herd of Elephants at FONNAP’S fundraiser at Muthaiga Membership in Nairobi on February 4, 2023. PHOTO | POOL

The artwork that had been reserved the day earlier than at Spinners Internet was now on show on the grass on easels exterior the Ballroom the place a dozen tables had been set for company to have dinner earlier than the public sale started.

The one factor unusual concerning the selections of artworks was that a lot of the artists had been represented in each exhibitions (since there have been successfully two artwork exhibits).

And on Friday particularly, one may see the distinction between the 2.

Each had been lovely, that includes acquainted painters like Patrick Kinuthia, Ann Mwiti, El Tayeb Dawelbeit, and Adrian Nduma. There have been others included completely within the public sale artwork room at Spinners Internet, and so they included a beautiful portray by Peter Elungat which featured on {the catalogue} cowl and was wanted by most of the Nationwide Park pals however not at that value.

I consider the beginning bid was Sh800,000, which was an unlikely quantity to listen to on that evening. There have been different items, like Ahmed Abushariaa’s beautiful ‘Forest and Desert’ at Sh1.3 million which had been lovely however pricier than what can be given up by the chums that evening.

Nannette Sole’s Backyard at FONNAP’s fundraiser on February 4, 2023. PHOTO | POOL

And a formidable piece like Bertiers Mbatia’s was additionally admired by many nevertheless it too was not precisely reasonably priced at Sh400,000, besides by collectors and connoisseurs who perceive his artwork is a valuable funding simply value that quantity since it would solely accrue in worth over time.

So, works like these had been lovely viewing, however not precisely helpful to the fundraising venture.

What made extra sense had been beautiful works like Sophie Walboeffe’s Giraffe at Sh40,000 minimal, Bettina Roedling’s view of ‘Nairobi Nationwide Park’ at Sh25,000, and even Steve Ndungu Lance’s Ngalawa at Lowtide for Sh15,000 (which had been donated by the artists to FONNaP).

In the meantime, the artwork that was solely on show the day earlier than the public sale had a number of works that I needed had been within the public sale. Most of my preferences had been brighter and sunnier, corresponding to Coster Ojwang’s; ‘The Herd’, Adrian Nduma’s ‘Diani Dawn’, Haji Chilonga’s ‘Unit’, and even Anne Mwiti’s ‘Makutano’ which is now one in all my favorite works by the Kenyatta College lecturer in High quality Artwork.

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However in the long run, it didn’t matter which room or which methodology of gross sales passed off.

Each exhibitions which I discovered at Spinners Internet had been offered in support of this essential organisation, one aimed toward preserving and defending one in all Kenya’s most valuable worldwide property, which makes Nairobi distinctive.

FONNaP has but to sq. its accounts regardless that most bills have already been coated, and most of the artists had donated their work. However others didn’t. So these funds are nonetheless being sorted out.

Jjuuko Hoods portray at Muthaiga Membership in Nairobi on February 4, 2023. PHOTO | POOL

Nonetheless, the array of eclectic East African artists on show on each days was distinctive. They got here from Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda in addition to from Belgium and the UK.

Different artists who had been featured within the exhibition included Adam Masava, Alex Wainaina, Ameer Yousif, Coster Ojwang, Derrick Munene, Heruy Aregawi, Kivutha Mbuno, Blissful Roberts, Hussein Halfawi, Jjuuko Hoods, Nannette Sole, Samuel Njuguna Njoroge, Victor Nderitu, Xavier Verhoest, and Yassir Ali.

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