Travelling places

Rene Magritte is one of the most popular artists that existed in the 20th century.Here in this picture,am actually standing inside the Magritte museum in Brussels.
The feeling was awesome.For a long time I had been reading and hearing about him both in books and in the internet.But now I came face to face with his art.Even though he wasn't there,I could still see him.His works looked so real and the environment surreal.
No wonder he's one of the greatest surrealists of all time.

Graffiti art

Graffiti art can be executed on any surface.Whether on canvas,concrete walls or even glass.
Here in this picture, I was expressing -using brush and paint what I felt during that moment in time.
I strongly believe that graffiti- art as an art form should be practiced sincerely enough,both for the artist and the general public.

Modern & Classic-vol.6

The Symbolism of Nairobi

When one takes a walk on Kenyatta Avenue,one will notice some two monuments on the roads facing opposite each other.
On the left hand side,one can see the African soldiers monument.On the right hand side,one can see the White soldiers monument.
Now,if Kenyatta was the first President in independent Kenya and Barack Obama the First Black president of the US,then don't you think Nairobi and it's streets have global significance?
When I was sketching the artwork below,I was talking about this symbolism.

Modern & Classic-vol.5

The Symbolism of Nairobi

The symbolism of Nairobi as a capital city starts at the KICC(Kenyatta International Conference Centre)grounds combined with the statue of the founding President(Mzee Jomo Kenyatta) and City Hall way.
The direction in which the statue faces is towards Parliament buildings.It relates in the same manner as the City Hall relates with the Kenya National Archives(which is on Moi Avenue).
Moi Avenue as a major road in the city,intersects with Kenyatta Avenue on which historically significant buildings and statues are located.
Kenyatta Avenue as another major road intersects with Uhuru Highway which passes behind Parliament buildings towards the War memorial cemetery.
Harambee Avenue as a government road links Moi Avenue with Uhuru Highway.It is then intersected by Parliament Road which connects with City Hall way.
Other than this,Parliament buildings as a historic site with global significance(due to the Pan African political movement),is full of symbolism.
The first thing one notices,is the huge star at the entrance followed by the twelve figures on the buildings' architecture.
When one decides to sketch the roads of City Hall way,Harambee Avenue,Moi Avenue and Parliament Road,they form a square like shape and so is the statue of the first president in relation with City Hall which forms an "L" like shape.
If one takes time to connect all this historic sites and roads,they form some geometric like shapes.

About me and my sites

Dear Reader,

It has come to my attention that some people are spreading lies around about my sites and their content.
I don't make profit from my blogging neither do I trade off information on selfish gains.
MOST of the photos and work in my sites is 95% mine and comes from a God given gift.
The other stuff and work comes from my friends who I ask permission from them before I post.
Am not a hacker nor a University professor.Am a young,simple African artist who is trying to discover the truth.
The truth about myself,my surroundings,my history and my future.
With this open letter I hope to clear the air and set issues straight.

Yours, Taurus.

Kinyozi art

Kinyozi art or barber shop art, has close links with matatu art.Entrepreneurs decorate and paint their shops with bright colours to attract customers.
At the barber shop, guys meet and talk about current affairs and other issues.
The art work above was done by Nozi and Aro (some of my neighbourhood artist friends.)
They can do signs and decorate Salons also.

Modern & Classic

Nairobi is a 'modern and classic' city in the sense that old and new buildings stand side by side.
A visitor can witness this by going for a walk along Kenyatta Avenue and Moi Avenue.
Classic buildings usually have the year of completion written at the entrance or near the roofs.
This date back to the colonial times.
Modern buildings on the other hand have a simple,Cubist style of architecture.
Now,comparing this facts with my work I can refer to Monet as a classic artist and Piet as a modern artist.
Neo-Plasticism can be viewed as a reincarnation of Impressionism.
Monet used brilliant colours (primary colours)in his work while Piet used primary colours with a bit of black & white.
So combining this with African colours I got the following pieces.

Early post/ Market day

If one decides to compare market scenes of the developed countries with those of developing countries,you will notice the huge difference.

African soldiers

In art history, we often hear of the French Zouaves but not the British Kings African Rifles(KAR).
Creativity is entangled with warfare during the WW1 and WW2 periods.
Apart from North Africans,East Africans also participated in the world wars.Most of the KARs were Africans and they were killed in large numbers since they were usually placed at the front line.
The epitaph under this monument is written in English, Arabic and Swahili.The writings on it show how in contempt Africans were looked upon.
By referring to people as "Arms and Legs" is not right.It's a great wonder that no one has ever complained about this issue and yet we have "intellectual" world war historians around.
Notable servicemen included Hussein Onyango Obama (the US Presidents' paternal grandfather) and "General China" who later became a freedom fighter.

The Rooftops

Many people fail to understand the environmental aspect of this photograph.
Yes we can have beautiful trees growing in the city but that doesn't prevent acid rain from destroying the roofs---?

Photo translation-2

With a single photograph one can do many things such as playing with time and colours.

Casual mania

Street fashion is a huge hit in urban areas.There are no age limits or status issues.
Anytime of the day it's all good.Whether outdoors or indoors.

Narrow passage

The original Bohemians maybe had their own way of tackling life issues.
What the early painters/artists went through in their lives is somewhat different from our current generation.
Nowadays, tragedies occur almost on a daily basis.Many of these "creative ones" leave unmentioned.
Few cases (such as the one above), get Press coverage.
It's indeed a harsh reality being a street artist.
Many guys run the risk of being arrested or even imprisonment.Others get caught up in drug problems.
Maybe all this will change one day..........

mashahiri

Throughout East and Equatorial Africa, poetry is or has become an avenue for expressing feelings, dreams,hopes and fears.
Poetry occupies a special place in everyday life.
Poets memorize and recite poems that reflect the wisdom of their people and their daily experiences.
A skilled poet can talk for several hours without tiring............
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Today's poems have become lyrics to rap songs.Rappers and their music have evolved from traditional storytellers/griots to international celebrities.
What body painting was has now become body tattooing.The Kingship gold chains and bracelets, have now become blings and ice.
The "Call and Response" in the village has taken over the concert stages and memories are now preserved in CDs.

"Blogging reality"

"Rather than love,than money,than fame,give me truth."
-Henry David Thoreau

Bloggers are said to be the community journalists and voice of the voiceless...........
Personally I view blogging as a celebration of diversity,human life and day to day experience.
Before immersing myself in the blogging world, life around me was just "life"- just living and passing time.
My way of thinking,viewing and judging of issues that were happening around me gradually started to change overtime.
Through blogging i.e. expressing myself and meeting other people on line really added something I never knew I had.
I began seeing the beauty in my surroundings and began appreciating myself more.
Due to this "blogging effect",I've talked to fellow street artists and friends to post their stuff on the net.
Some don't see the importance or the value.Others just have difficulty accessing the Internet and some it's like gibberish......

Just flying over >>.>

A sunny day....the sound of vehicles moving and a height above the rest ---,is what the camera showed me.

Nairobi stone

The above milliary stone is located along Kenyatta avenue near the GPO.It's one of a kind.Maybe that's the reason it's fenced around.The design itself is unique.

Early post/ stocks $ hues

The recession that is affecting all corners of the globe made me remember one of my early paintings.As an alternative- stocks can be traded like an auction house.
I found the NYSE photo in some old magazine that was thrown in a dump around town.

Tribute to MJ

Dancing shoes

Guys received the news with disbelief and shock.In short,Mj inspired everyone in the world.I've been hearing his songs from nursery school to the present days.
People got impressed by his fine dance moves and passionate singing.As an artist and a fan I had to react to the sad news.
Maybe his demise will unleash a new art movement like Obamaism.It might be MJism or the popular Wacko Jacko.Who knows? ^^^

My Drawings 6

The little shops found in the countryside are designed in such a way that everyone sees whats happening around.No jostling or littering.
Some of them were built during the colonial era and are still intact.