The Weekly Observer (Kampala)
John Vianney Nsimbe
19 November 2008
analysis
Bowing to the inevitable, though with surprising timing, Fidelis Nabukenya's family accepted that she was not meant to be a nurse; she was born for art in sculpture, painting and drawing.
A graduate from Makerere University in 2002, Fidelis' parents did not think that visual arts would give their daughter a deserving livelihood. So they sent her to St. Kitts in the Caribbean to study nursing in 2006.
However 18 months later, she returned to Uganda without informing any of her family members that she had dropped the nursing course to concentrate on what she has passion for - art. A year later, Fidelis has held her first solo art exhibition courtesy of the Uganda German Cultural Society (UGCS) at its premises on Mackinnon Road, Nakasero and the themes of her works range from love, spirituality and death to life.
Her painting of a woman that is not happy and deeply in thought and despair, she says is a message of confinement.
It tells of how some people especially women lead a life where their direction is dictated without question.
"It is true that society has unprivileged people; slaves of others or those that cannot even predetermine their destiny. It is not a good experience but it exists," said Fidelis.
In a way, this painting is reflective of what she has experienced although she notes that although some imposers do it selfishly, in many other cases, it is as a result of too much love with some people wanting the best for you although it may not necessarily be what you want.
Interestingly, in some other paintings, Fidelis shows that society thrives on love where people live together and are dependent on one another.
"I like being with people because I learn from them and benefit from them in many other ways," said Fidelis. To prove this, a number of guests were invited to attend the exhibition of a unique style of painting and drawing on November 5.
Kiwanuka Mulindwa, a fine-artist said, "I have always admired her work from University for its distinct style. She paints 'wash style', which is not an easy way of producing an art piece." By wash, Mulindwa meant a style where the paint colours flow from above systematically like a wave yet do not overlap or mix with each other.
Fidelis' colours were cleverly placed on the canvas both in light and dark appearances, yet no drawing was invisible. She is not your ordinary fine-artist, she is unique and gifted; something Caro Bader, the UGCS Cultural Assistant opined.
Notably, in some of Fidelis' currently exhibited art works some people said that the people drawn appear like they are heading to heaven.
"Yes, it seems that way but that explains my spirituality. I believe that a life well lived will get people to heaven," said Fidelis who also portrays herself as a hard-worker.
She will patiently push her fine-art dream to success, which is why she drew 23 fine-art pieces in 12 weeks for this exhibition, a period when she is also pregnant.
Fidelis, born May 6, 1979 is a multi-sectoral artiste. "I also sing by the way," she said. She plans to release a few of her Gospel and secular songs next year.
Although Fidelis did not enjoy what had taken her to St. Kitts, she did a few art pieces and sold them over there. As she harnesses her fine-art profession, hopefully the Caribbean will be one of her exhibition venues.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Weekly Observer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
