Quis autem velum iure reprehe nderit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit nulla or narjusto laoreet onse ctetur adipisci.
Quis autem velum iure reprehe nderit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit nulla or narjusto laoreet onse ctetur adipisci.
FOLLOWING YOUR CREATIVE DREAM
Just days before Women’s month, 24-year-old artist Romeo Niyigena launched his intriguing collection, ‘The Obsession’ at Indiba Art Space, celebrating the beauty of African women. We spoke to Romeo about his inspiration for this collection, following his passion and the future of art in Rwanda.
Q: What inspired this collection?
A: I like to paint daily life. I was thinking about how girls nowadays become obsessed with their appearance. Some even resort to skin bleaching to change the color of their skin. I thought I could make something to inspire them, a picture that looked like them, Black Women, in their natural state. If girls see these paintings, they could appreciate their own beauty and be proud. The newspaper weaved into each piece is for the media and society not to judge them by their looks but go deeper and look at their character.
Q: Tell us about the exhibition and why its success was a surprise.
A: Comparing it to my first exhibition, many more people came and shared it on social media. I sold 2 paintings on open day and got commission work for a portrait.
Q: Tell us about your journey to this point.
A: I’m 24 years old. I started drawing when I was primary school, from the first day I went to school, and my parents saw it as wasting time. There used to be pictures of football players on chewing gum wrappers, I tried to copy that and filled an entire notebook. Every time I had a break I would draw. I kept drawing up until my senior years.
I was born in Kigali, but I grew up in the Southern Province in the Ruhango district. My friend who was born and raised in Kigali and had been exposed to a lot of art told me about an art school. We have only one school for Arts in Rwanda in the Western Province in Rubavu, Nyundo. After Senior 3, I applied to go to that school without my parents’ knowledge and got accepted.
When I told them they were against it. They wanted me to study Science instead, to become a doctor or study to work in a bank. They had never heard of any successful artist. I insisted and they refused. Their other reason was that the school was far away. They refused to pay. I missed the first term trying to convince my parents. I eventually said,“I will be a soldier if you don’t want me to be an artist.” They didn’t like that idea and eventually gave in. They said, “it is your life and your decision”.
I didn’t know what to expect but just knew I loved art; it was my passion. It was a 3-year program. When I got there at 17 years old, it was the first time I saw a painting. Up until that point I was only drawing. I felt like I had so much to learn just to catch up everybody else. I spent all of my free time practicing. Every break, every weekend, I had to work hard.
Q: Many artists don’t go to school to follow their passion, what made you think you needed to study?
A: Some people meet artists that can help them and teach them, but I had not met many artists, so it made sense to go to school.
Q: What did you do after school?
A: I had a collection of paintings when I finished school, I went to different galleries and asked if I could display my work there. It wasn’t easy to buy art materials for me once I finished school in 2018 but since then there is an artist I work with in Musanze and I do portraits, I also do commission work, but It was difficult in the beginning.
Q: Did the school teach you the business side of the art world?
A: Not really, they gave guidelines, but I had to hustle and learn from artists who were known and established. I eventually got my pieces in a few galleries. I still have my work in several galleries.
Q: What is your definition of success? When will you feel you have made it as an artist?
A: For me, I will feel like I have achieved success when an international collector takes interest in my work and promotes it through exhibitions. If you’re famous, whatever you do has more value.
Q: Was this a successful exhibition for you?
A: It is a steppingstone. I had one exhibition before that was really only attended by my friends but then the pieces started selling and with this collection people are starting to know my work.
Q: How do your parents feel now and how did you get them to believe in your talent?
A: I made a painting of my uncle that looked so much like him, everyone in the community positively commented, that’s when my parents recognized my talent, they started to be proud and support me.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: To keep working and have my own studio and work hard.
Q: Is it easy to get support from international institutions or the government?
A: Yes, when you approach certain institutions, they do offer support. And the government has an annual competition called Art Rwanda /Ubuhanzi where they take 60 different artists from all creative fields, art, dance, poetry etc. and they provide you with support. I plan to apply.
Q: What advice would you give to a young person who wants to become an artist?
A: I think small artists need exposure to other artists to know that there is money in it, but it takes hard work and is not quick money, it’s step by step. They need to follow their passion and use social media to promote their art.
Q: Is there a future for the art industry in Rwanda?
A: As we keep promoting Rwanda and all that we produce here, the art industry is also growing.
nromeo_studio