Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 4th 2007, 8:10am By Gabrielle Bouliane

Renowned African-Canadian Artist David Kibuuka will be having a showing at Gallery 51 which will remain on display until July 21st, 2007. Kibuuka is in the African Modernist school, which borrows techniques from 19th and 20th century European artists, blending them with traditional African imagery to create a wholly vibrant and unique form. Kibuuka is notably internationally famous for his work as the founder of Modern Batik Art Painting where he introduced the Fragmentation technique to traditional Batik Art, which uses mosaics of color and form to create rich, multifaceted images. This modification added increased background depth and a richer palette of colors to batik painting, allowing this novel fine art medium to yield control, detail and richness comparable to oil, acrylic and water-color painting.

Kibuuka emerged early as an artist, thanks in part to the mentoring of his late brother Henry Lumu, who became in his lifetime Uganda’s arguably most well-known figure in the fine arts, even being charged By the Ugandan National Television show to create and star in their first fine arts instruction program. David Kibuuka benefitted greatly from staying close to his brother, attending openings and classes with him while being instructed by him at home. As a result, he came into his own strength as an artist at a very young age and began selling his works at the Nommo Gallery by age 11, an unprecedented career pace for artists at that time. He continued his training later at the Makerere University School of Fine Arts (Kampala), where the head of the art department, Joseph Mungaya, gave him the keys to the art department store room, in a rare gesture of trust. By recognizing and encouraging Kibuuka’s insatiable passion for painting, and giving him access to the materials to develop, Kibuuka quickly outpaced his fellows, as recognized by his works showing in graduate exhibitions at the time.

Shortly afterwards, political unrest fell upon Uganda in the form of Idi Amin, and David left the country to spend six years in Kenya, later emigrating to Toronto, where he resides today. Kibuuka’s style has been recognized as more futuristic than his late brother’s, due in part to his receiving a later degree in Computer Animation, Computer Graphics, Video Production from the Ontario College of Fine Art (and a lifetime love of the fluid forms of Marvel Comics.) His works are striking, deep with the color, form and expression of a master artist in many mediums, and telling the story of a country and a people’s rich and lively modern culture. In an interview with Jane Musoke-Nteyafas, Kibuuka says considers himself a cultural ambassador, helping the world to understand the Ugandan heritage through his work, and reminding Africans to be proud of their ancestry. Buffalo is proud to be the next recipient of that message.

Pictured: Ceremonial Dance II

Saturday, June 9, 5 PM – 8 PM, Opening Reception (Regular Hours: Tuesday -Thursday 11:30 AM-5:30 PM, Friday 11:30 AM - 6 PM, Saturday Noon-5 PM)
Free
Gallery 51
567-569 Elmwood Avenue, 14222, 332.6821