Ugandan Artist Denis Mubiru provides a powerful blend of force, flavor, and prominence in his vivid, vibrant, and arresting work. His paintings, reminiscent of Basquiat, are inspired by popular culture with bright colors and stylized imagery. Central to his work is the theme of transport and the migration or movement of people. His artworks often include roughly applied text which highlight the significance of thoughts or his experiences at the time. We had the pleasure to speak with Dennis to gain insight into his artistry.
Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Firstly, how did you become interested in the arts and choose your medium?
I became interested in the arts way back in 2012 at university and my late dad is the one that pushed me to love arts. I remember seeing him scribbling and sketching some of his favorite world cup greats like Maradona, Pele, Johnson, Cruff, and many more greats in his office. I turned out to be like the great artist Jean Micheal Basquiat, who got interested by his dad who offered him papers to scribble on when he was still a kid.
Who are your influences? Is there a particular artist who stands out and if so why?
Jean Micheal Basquiat is a huge influence on my art practice. I love his work; so detailed with a lot of great narratives in one art piece painted from his heart and not by what others say or any critic out there says that should be created. My late Dad for his being true to himself about a lot of stuff towards others. I loved his character and my artworks depict a lot of truism in the narratives I talk about- my society and the great city of Kampala.
You were an artist in residence at 32° East | Ugandan Arts Trust for three months from August – October 2015. Please share your experiences and what you worked on during this period?
32 East is a huge arts organization in Uganda and I got a chance to be exposed to the world of arts. A fully equipped library of contemporary arts made me widen my reading and thoughts about the arts in the world. It also provided a lot of networking with artists in the region.
East Africa has got lots of great artists and I got to learn how they handled their art practice. That alone made me who I am today. Aside from that, the studios provided space for me to experiment on a lot of ways or styles I would present myself to the world of art collectors, art galleries, and the world society that am communicating too. I was able to find my own style aside from the influence of Jean Micheal Basquiat, the great Black American Artist.
All in all the time I spent at 32, it helped me find that avenue and way of expressing my thoughts on canvas and lots of narratives if you look deep into my artworks. Expressing myself to the public too through speech and arts was a great thing I acquired from 32.
During my stay at 32, I worked on a project I titled” Kampala Yange “ which saw me created works that looked at the taxi matatu culture. Taxis here are the public motor that ferries people to town to work and ferry them back to there places of residence. They have got a culture that is so interesting as depicted in most of the works I created during that time at 32 and still create now in most of my paintings.
Matatu complexities: On “Kampala Yange”, Denis Mubiru in Residence- Here I mention the aspect of visual communication, the mobility, and functionality of the matatu, emphasizing the conversations both within it and outside it, the language, the luggage, the money, the people, the gestures, the silence, and the movement. Kampala Yange. “I came up with this theme after constantly hearing the phrase from the streets of Kampala. It is a popular slang commonly used by the youth of the city which translates as “Kampala is mine”. Personally, I proud dwelling within Kampala’s perimeters especially its culture, politics, religion, mobility, communication. The body of work created during my residency explored the notion of the city (Kampala) as a public space that has been objectified latter alone owned by the inhabitants. The idea of ownership informs how city dwellers have over time obtained cruel behaviors in the name of ‘the city is mine’. When one says Kampala is mine what does this mean? It means that it is a place where they belong, so they can do what they want to do with what is theirs.
The complexity of the matatu is reflected in how a combination of people from different races, sects, religions, beliefs, education status, gender, agreeably sit together to travel to different destinations. Within these, the arguments, discussions, disagreements, comedy, conversations make the matatu experience unforgettable. I captured and retold some of these through my semi-abstract paintings.
Your work has been exhibited at numerous exhibitions and events. Exhibitions include Young Guns Circle Art Agency Nairobi 2017, the Unseen Afriart Gallery Kampala 2017 Art Transposition LKB/G Gallery Hamburg 2017, and Music is a Feature of Man, German Ambassadors Residence, Kampala 2015. To date, which event are you most proud of and why?
Young Guns Circle Art Agency is what am most proud of simply because it’s one exhibition that most of my fellows here in Kampala didn’t think I would participate in and make it big. Most of my works showcased sold during a private view session organized by the gallery owner. The private view is for those seasoned regular art collectors in Nairobi so it was amazing and cool for me to know that all my works sold even before the opening of the exhibition.
‘I Can’t stop looking at the fish’ and ‘Am Scared of My Nightmares’ are just two of your powerfully vivid and energy- fuelled works. Please share with us the concepts and your process of creating these wonderful pieces.
“I can’t stop looking at the fish” was looking at the aspects of the high-end business done by our little beautiful girls who get involved in the sex trade with the foreigners to better their lives, but still it was appreciating the beauty of the fish that is offered, just like Adam appreciated the apple offered to him by Eve in the garden of Eden.
Are there any particular artworks you are most proud of and why?
Oh, many works I am proud of …..most of my works that I have created I am proud of them. “Saint Afrika”(below) and “Saint-Denis “ and “ Dancing with myself” These are some of the recent works I have created and showcased at the Melrose Gallery in South Africa Johannesburg.
You use playful, abstract paintings, and intricate imagery to narrate interesting and exciting dramas that unfold within society. How important is art, particularly in Uganda, as a medium to capture or even influence our immediate environment?
The main importance of art is to retell our history and forge a new feature to our immediate environment and society.
What is your biggest challenge as a visual artist?
Oh, this is touching …. the biggest challenge is aspects of not being able to showcase in my own country and town simply because curators think we emerging young artists that are challenging the status quo and thus their pockets. Yet, we are not after the money, we are after cementing our say and stand in the arts industry, trying to vice our thoughts to the world; to see listen, and add to the culture of the arts in the world.
Exhibitions are a huge challenge but if they can be organized regularly by different stakeholders to better expose raw talent out there, and that Africa has got, then the world would be a better place to live in. I would say materials or interest in the artworld created by artists isn’t a challenge now that social media is available and can be used.
What advice would you give to young artists embarking on their careers?
“Follow your heart and paint what you feel it speaks to you …the world out there will appreciate it and come running to have a piece of your heart”
Where can our readers find out more about you?
I can be found on these links
https://themelrosegallery.com/
www.faceboo.com/denismubiru www.facebook.com/artwamubiru and www.facebook.com/onomubirumubiru on Facebook.
www.instagram.com/iammubiruonomubiru and www.instagram.com/iamonomubiru_artist_ on Instagram
Featured work:
Queens and Kings (100x100cm)
I can’t stop looking at the fish (100x100cm)
Saint Afrika (100x100cm)
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