Wanyama Ogutu, Night & Nightdress, 80 cm by 60cm, acrylic on canvas
In my painting, I draw inspiration from Chinua Achebe's "No Longer at Ease" and bring to life a powerful scene. It portrays a mother accompanied by a police woman, walking through the urban center at night. The Baroque style I adopt accentuates the stark contrast and the nocturnal ambiance of the city. Through this artwork, I highlight the significance of police women in ensuring safety and the crucial role of nightdresses in safeguarding children from criminals. By employing dramatic subject matter and realistic human figures, I aim to immerse the viewer in the essence of the night and the protective aspect of nightdresses, allowing each observer to interpret the scene in their own way. Ultimately, my painting serves as a representation of the active and economic hours that women experience in urban centers.
Wanyama Ogutu, Women O’s Issues, 80 cm by 60cm, acrylic on canvas
In my artwork, I aim to portray the challenges women, particularly in urban informal areas, face regarding ownership issues. That's why I titled it 'Women's O's Issues,' symbolizing the dilemmas they encounter that often result in discord within families and communities. The painting showcases a boda-boda rider leaning on a house wall, while two larger women engage in a heated conflict. I utilize various art and design principles, such as value and color, to capture the atmosphere of the scene. Employing a post-impressionist style with hints of mannerism, I emphasize the subject's extravagance while intentionally minimizing human figure outline details. My artwork aims to highlight women's autonomy in addressing their problems while emphasizing the significance of discretion in urban informal settings.
Wanyama Ogutu is a scholar in the Master of Arts (Fine Art) program at Kenyatta University. He is also a practicing artist specializing in drawing, painting, and sculpture in Nairobi, Kenya. His study focuses on Painting, its’ philosophy, education, and extension to African Art. Most of his artworks focus on interaction, the environment, and education. Wanyama has a passion for fine art research, its philosophy, development, and relevance. He writes on profound academic topics, which are presented and published in international journals and conferences around the world. He is an insightful writer who publishes monthly in Africa's magazines and newspapers. He is currently a part-time teacher at some TVET institutes in Nairobi.