Hi there beautiful people! ๐ It’s good to be back after a short, one-week break… Thank you for your kind patience.
It was a much-needed timeout to get my head back in the right space. ๐ I felt encouraged through the dear people I ran into, in different yet unexpected ways, who affirmed that they do read the blog. Yaay!😀🕺🏼 💃🏻
Sometimes, it’s easy to feel like I am rambling to myself on, this here, my small piece of the internet. So each time you tell me ‘I read your blog!’ it goes a long way! ๐
And, as promised, here’s a special shout out to all my ‘silent readers’ who read faithfully week on week… Though I may not ‘see’ you, I know you are there, and I love you all the same. 😌
So, if today you are touched to leave a comment saying ‘you are there’, here’s a High-Five for you in advance! 👋🏽👋🏽 ๐
That said, I am excited to share this little archive piece on Diani Beach Art Gallery… from our November travels.
Exploring Diani Beach Art Gallery
Art brings imagination to life ~ Robert Lee Munoz
A Little Backstory…
A while ago, an old friend asked me to recommend a nice Art Gallery in Mombasa. At the time, I had no clue what art-life in at the Coast is like, yet it did well to trigger my curiosity.
Moreover, our art experience at Inema Art Centre in Rwanda was amazing, and I was pretty excited to get a feel of Art-life at the Coast!
< P.S. You can read about Inema HERE>
So when we traveled to Diani, curiosity led us right to the doors of Diani Beach Art Gallery. ๐
How to Get There
Diani Beach Art Gallery is a Contemporary African Arts gallery, conveniently located at Diani Beach Shopping Centre, in Ukunda, about 30Km south of Mombasa.
If you are traveling from your hotel, find out whether they can organize a drop-off to and fro. We opted to take a Tuktuk, as it’s one of the most affordable ways to travel in these parts.
Tips:
- From the Likoni ferry, it is quite a distance so you may want to use the cheaper option of Matatus, or Public Service vehicles, to Ukunda town then hail a Tuktuk to the gallery.
- Taxis tend to overcharge hotel clients, so do find out in advance how much the trip would typically cost, if you wish to take a taxi. It was quite interesting to see less than 5 Uber vehicles on the Uber app, with their cost being the highest in comparison. This may have improved since then.
- If you get lost, smile and call Diani Beach Art Gallery, for directions as they are super helpful, and will easily direct you. ๐
A Fusion of Coastal Hospitality & African Artiness
Walking into the gallery, we received a warm, coastal welcome from Zaina, our hostess for the day.
My eyes were immediately drawn to the unique art pieces and moldings that embellish the spacious art gallery. I was dying to learn more about the pieces, and the artists behind them. ๐
Having explained our mission, Zaina was more than thrilled to show us around. Her vast knowledge of the art pieces, and their respective creators, was rather impressive.
They stock art from different African countries beyond Kenya like Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Malawi and then some! It was fascinating how well the artworks brought out the qualities of various African cultures.
PHOTOGRAPH BY: WANJIKU THUO
For instance, you can identify the Ugandan pieces from their use of bold and bright colors which fits in well with their exuberant culture.
Creativity Redefined
My mouth was literally agape half the time! ๐ The artists’ creativity in their application of various materials used is genius, to say they least…
As Zaina so aptly put it ‘You have to be eccentric to be an artist!’
Particularly, this piece depicting Kanye West created from broken discs was mind-blowing! You find yourself bending and distorting your body in all kinds of angles, up close and far, just to see the picture as a whole!
You can tell that the artists put in a lot of work and thought into their pieces… They each seek to tell a story, portraying the different issues that are relevant to them and society.
Thanks to our interaction with Zaina I learned so much about art and how to look at artworks, while keeping in mind that art is subjective.
Art makes one worse than a curious cat… You want to crawl into the mind of an artist, if only to get a glimpse of their thoughts as they were working on a masterpiece…. Yet, to learn that you can never ever fully grasp it, is the true beauty of art.
Support of Local Artists
Moreover, I was impressed by the gallery’s initiatives to support the artists that they work with.
For instance, they help Artists to determine best ways to cost their pieces. They also refresh artworks in the gallery on a quarterly basis, by requesting their artists to provide new artwork.
I was happy to learn that they participate in regular Exhibitions in Nairobi. Here, they showcase various artworks as well as live, interactive painting sessions. Furthermore, they have a catalogue that features the pieces in the gallery.
Artists who’re interested in exhibiting at Diani Beach Gallery can reach out to them with examples of their work. The key thing is to produce creative, unique artworks, not duplicates.
They’ve had pieces purchased by prominent people such as the Queen of Bahrain, hence it can be a lucrative opportunity. 😊
An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision ~ James Whistler
Many thanks to Diani Beach Art Gallery, and to Zaina for giving us an excellent, eye-opening tour.
I look forward to exploring Art-life in Nairobi, so if you know any amazing art projects and galleries, be sure to share in the Comments’ section below and I will check them out. ๐
Thanks for reading my dear friends! Did you like this post? I would love to hear from you! ๐ Leave a comment/question/suggestion below and I will be certain to respond! ๐
โขSending You Light & Love. Stay Inspired Alwaysโข ๐
15 Comments
Fenny
January 17, 2018 at 7:43 pmHeeeey! Am literally smiling writing this. Am planning a trip to Diani and this I would love to check out!! Love and light always, and you look amazing
Scrapbook Journeys
January 22, 2018 at 11:20 amThank you my dear friend! Always a delight to read from you! Aw take me with you! Lol, but seriously I know you will enjoy Diani! Have fun, take lotsa pictures and make memories. Love and light*
Claude
March 11, 2017 at 3:36 pmSimply amazing the Diani Beach Arts Gallery, from paintings to sculptures WOW.. not mentioning the colors..
I enjoy your post entertaining and educational as usual.
Thank you can’t wait what is coming next.. No Pressure at your convenience.
Alex
March 10, 2017 at 10:44 pmI love the post! It’s amazing how you always give practical tips(when and how to get somewhere), the way you carefully describe things (food, a park or these Picasso style art pieces) and the fact that you don’t forget the people running the places you visit. I love it!
Scrapbook Journeys
March 16, 2017 at 6:56 pmThank you so so much Alex! I appreciate the great feedback! I am encouraged-and all glory to God! Do stick around for future posts! ๐
sheyce
March 10, 2017 at 8:42 amam here…i never miss any blog post of yours.. beautiful art ..<3
Scrapbook Journeys
March 10, 2017 at 2:19 pmWow Sheyce! Always a pleasure reading from you, and I am so glad to see you ‘here’! Thanks for the affirmation! We Keep On! ๐ ๐
mitha
March 10, 2017 at 3:29 amSuch a breath of fresh air to see art depicted in a different light. I love how the artists have incorporated the coastal culture into their work. Love the article. Scrapbook journeys was missed last week โคโค
Scrapbook Journeys
March 10, 2017 at 2:18 pmThank you for reading! I agree, this was a refreshing experience! Glad to be back, and will keep on! ๐ ๐
Rhodes
March 9, 2017 at 5:47 pmIm here…
The art is amazing.
I like the busts and the portraits.
Kanye’s piece is so deep…and to the point (Relative)
Scrapbook Journeys
March 9, 2017 at 6:04 pmYaaay! High Five Rhodes! Thank you for letting us know that you are there, such a joy! Yes, I totally loved that piece…I can see you doing a poetry piece on that… ๐ ๐
Nesh
March 9, 2017 at 3:50 pmI love and appreciate art, alliance francaise’ has lots of art galleries, check out the current one, Kenyans got tallent.
Again, you have done justice to this piece and bright future ahead
Scrapbook Journeys
March 9, 2017 at 6:02 pmHey! I love that you always comment with a suggestion! Thank you, and I will certainly visit Alliance for some art-inspiration! Thank you for reading! ๐
phina
March 9, 2017 at 1:46 pmTruly amaaaazing…
Scrapbook Journeys
March 9, 2017 at 6:00 pmThank you Phina! Pleasure to read from you! ๐