Arriving at Inema Arts Centre, I encountered twenty young
Rwandans learning the moves to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’. Clearly this was
no ordinary art gallery. The boys and girls were rehearsing an upcoming concert
and had mastered the first two verses and chorus. In the soft light of Kigali’s
setting sun, it was an unexpected sight.
Inema Arts Centre is the passion and purpose of two brothers,
leading contemporary artists Emmanuel Nkuranga and Innocent Nkurunziza. Founded
in 2012, Inema is a place of contagious positivity. While the focus is on
providing a space for resident artists to share and develop their skills,
Inema, meaning gift in Kinyarwanda, is much more. Emmanuel describes it as a
place where everyone can share their creativity and passion. And today,
according to the self-trained artist, a virtuous cycle of giving, loving and
sharing has taken hold. From the moment you step inside the gallery space,
there is no denying there’s something special at work.
|
Leading contemporary artists, Emmanuel Nkuranga and Innocent Nkurunziza |
Emmanuel and his brother Innocent grew up in Uganda before
their parents moved the family back to Rwanda in 1997. At just 11 years of age,
Innocent was already a passionate artist and used crayons and brushes to
recreate the world around him, often burning the crayons to make paint. Though
his school never offered art classes, Innocent’s mother saw his potential and
today he credits her with giving him the courage to pursue his passion. Four
years later Innocent’s talent was given the chance to truly shine when London
based artist George Hicks came to Rwanda to share his skills with budding
artists. After only one month, 79 of the 80 students in the workshop had quit.
Only Innocent remained. It wasn’t hard for Hicks to predict that the 15 year
old would go on to achieve international acclaim.
For Emmanuel, passion for paint came a little later. As a keen
sportsman, he was more likely to have a basketball than a paintbrush in his
hands. But after the sudden death of their mother, Emmanuel took to painting as
a kind of therapy and his talent didn’t go unnoticed for long. Of finding the
power of art he says, “I didn’t know that art could heal me, that it could be
an aspiration and that I could share my experiences, talent and resources to
help others realise the amazing hidden talents they might have”. And that’s
exactly what Emmanuel is doing today.
|
Innocent Nkurunziza at work in the Inema studio |
Both brothers draw on the memory of their mother as inspiration
for their art and their commitment to the centre. For Innocent, a promise made
to paint her portrait spurred him to take on painting full time. For Emmanuel,
the care and love his mother showed to children in their community, and at the
school she founded with her husband, inspired him to set up a number of
programs to help young people realise their potential. According to Emmanuel,
she made everyone feel special and unique and he wants to do the same. Today
Emmanuel’s dream of educating young people, showing them a brighter future and
training them to be professional artists has become a reality.
One of just many at centre, Art with a Mission is a program run
by Emmanuel and his team to train young Rwandans with limited resources on how
to tap into their artistic skills. Now in its third year, artworks produced by
the students are on display and sold at the Inema gallery to cover school fees
and living costs. Plans are underway to expand the artistic medium to
photography and theatre. The centre also hosts a workshop for local women who
craft exquisite handicrafts and jewellery. Known as Nziza Artworks and founded
by Innocent in 2010, the 16 women involved are creating a bright future for
themselves and their families through first class art. Inema is also helping to
keep Rwandan culture alive through its dance and drum troupe. Young people are
trained to become ‘Intore’, learning the rich history of the famous performance
style. The troupe travels the country with income generated helping to pay the
performers’ school fees.
|
Emmanuel Nkuranga with students from Art with a Mission |
Both brothers credit Rwanda’s culture and stunning landscape
for inspiring their work. For Innocent, “the dynamic rhythm of nature, people,
colours and texture are the basis from which my art is derived” while the
country’s Akagera National Park is “where you see the real colour of the
world”. For Emmanuel, “anything is art. It’s just how you interpret it -
nature, people, movement - everything. Rwanda and its great weather put me to
work”.
The two brothers and ten resident artists are winning over art
lovers and critics at home and abroad. Exhibitions across the United States
including in New York, Washington and San Francisco as well as in London,
Germany, Sweden and Belgium have wowed crowds, and with good reason. The
artwork produced at Inema is unique, intriguing and beautiful, capturing the
spirit of Rwanda in a way that no words on a page or image on Facebook ever could.
The centre hosts local and international exhibitions, the latest by US artist
Renee Balfour, and a showcase of Inema artists is currently touring Kigali
hotspots.
What strikes you as you soak in the artwork, from stunning
portraits and painted motorbikes to metal sculptures and carved crocodiles, is
that they’re clearly more than just colours on a canvas. The art represents a
way of being and of being with others. It’s a powerful expression of how the
world could be – one joined together in creativity, love and beauty.
|
Stunning artwork on display at Inema |
Emmanuel and Innocent told me that their dream was simple - to
find artists and work together. But what the brothers have built is something
far greater. Inema is a gift to Rwanda and to art lovers the world over. So
next time you’re in Kigali, head down to Inema Arts Centre in Kacyiru and see
for yourself what’s got the art world talking, and maybe even a performance of
Thriller.
----
This piece originally appeared in the December - February edition of RwandAir's Inzozi magazine. Visit the
Inzozi website or follow
@Inzozi_rw for more stories.