KIWIMBI
Kiwimbi was the first free public library in the county of Busia, Kenya.
The Library now welcomes between 400 and 500 visitors each day.
It actively encourages participation by groups who risk marginalisation. Access to the Library is free, which is critical in this low-income area.
The growing Art Programme nurtures students' creativity; the recently founded Museum is a reference point for the cultural consciousness of the area.
To support, or learn more, please be in contact! https://kiwimbi.org/programs/
Kiwimbi was the first free public library in the county of Busia, Kenya.
The Library now welcomes between 400 and 500 visitors each day.
It actively encourages participation by groups who risk marginalisation. Access to the Library is free, which is critical in this low-income area.
The growing Art Programme nurtures students' creativity; the recently founded Museum is a reference point for the cultural consciousness of the area.
To support, or learn more, please be in contact! https://kiwimbi.org/programs/
Radu's 4 min. demo in chalks - portrait
Radu Leon has been supporting the Art Programme at Kiwimbi since 2014. He led workshops for hundreds of students, organised an exhibition of student art in Venice, and, in online encounters while in lockdown, shared sustainable art techniques.
In August 2023, Dr Leon offered workshops to the new generation of young artists at Kiwimbi, and advice to their teachers.
In August 2023, Dr Leon offered workshops to the new generation of young artists at Kiwimbi, and advice to their teachers.
From morning to late afternoon, young artists aged 8-15 drew and painted, exploring the natural world, observing light and shade, conveying shape and colour.
They studied plants and animals from life, working in dry, water-, and oil-based media. Samples of their first drawings in chalks and paintings in oils are shown above.
Using watercolours made from red and yellow ochres collected from the area, students explored mark-making with the brush to produce expressive head studies. A few of their first attempts in this technique are shown below.
They studied plants and animals from life, working in dry, water-, and oil-based media. Samples of their first drawings in chalks and paintings in oils are shown above.
Using watercolours made from red and yellow ochres collected from the area, students explored mark-making with the brush to produce expressive head studies. A few of their first attempts in this technique are shown below.
Young artists worked in water-based media with locally sourced pigments and binders
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Dr Leon invited Mr Akwara, Keeper of the Museum, to talk about the artefacts held in the collection. Young artists were encouraged to visually respond to these objects. For instance, bottle gourds used as ceremonial musical instruments inspired the still life studies in oils shown above.
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Students drew what they could see, recall, or imagine: from leaves on the mango tree, to a chance encounter with a lizard.
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