Uganda-Rwanda artist: hidden in plain sight
Daniel Nelson
So much of what’s happening in Africa is hidden from us, but the work of Collin Sekajugo – born in Uganda, brought up in Kenya, living in Rwanda – is hidden in plain sight.
At the best of times, the small exhibition at the Sulger-Buel Gallery in London would probably have gone largely unnoticed: now, at the worst of times, it’s almost invisible.
At least you can go and see it in person as well as online, even if many of us still regard a journey to a gallery as unnecessarily hazardous. Once inside, you’ll be safe: visits are by appointment, so you’ll be on your own.
The works are large, but you’ll need to look closely, and reflect. Sekajugo is not flashy or in-your-face bold. It’s not bustling Kampala markets or boda-boda motorbike taxis that are on show, nor bars and miniskirts. Instead, look for jerry cans, and plastic cups and kettles.
Cows, goats, sheep, chickens, dogs roaming everywhere anytime.
Everyone is building anything anywhere anytime. Everyone is selling, buying and disposing of everything everywhere.
Boda Bodas are everywhere carrying everyone and everything anytime.
Music is loud everywhere, voiceovers, posters advertising everything everywhere.
Everyone is saying anything to anyone anywhere
People don't care, leaders don't care. Donors don't care. Nobody cares. This is freedom. This is Uganda. C'est l'Ouganda!
No, he says, the exhibition “speaks to the tension between [Uganda’s] fast-growing population versus the availability of public resources that are meant to cater for it. The backdrop of all the artworks in this project are performances wherein the quilted empty food sacs denote the seemingly endless need for humanitarian aid in poverty stricken and refugee-hosting countries like Uganda.”
The materials he uses underline his point: “Recycling is a significant part of my work.“ Look for the use of polypropylene (denoting consumerism) and bark cloth (representing Uganda's cultural identity).
It all shows that Sekajugo is an activist artist. It’s evident in his whole career. Among many achievements, he has pioneered the transformation of a Uganda village into an “arts destination”, set up a foundation and created an arts space in Kigali, where one of the activities uses dance to help disadvantaged children as a means of healing, educating and instilling a sense of hope.
“Over the last ten years I have lived to see art become an integral part of community development in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya,” he has said. “This is why i am still doing it; to heal, educate and inspire.”
Sadly, This is Uganda scarcely makes a ripple in a hand-sanitised, half-open gallery in semi-locked down London.
This Is Uganda at the Sulger-Buel Gallery, The Loft, 51 Surrey Row, Unit 2 La Gare, SE1 0BZ, by appointment only, until 31 August. Info: Gallery
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