A Taste of Tanzania

"Nyumba ya Sanaa: Works From The Maryknoll Collection" is now on display at the Syracuse University Art Galleries. The show presents selections from a collection of some 170 works given to the university in 2012 by the Maryknoll Sisters. Encompassing the work of 22 artists, the collection comes from Nyumba ya Sanaa (Swahili for "House of Art), a center for art, music, and dance in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The images on display were largely similar to one another. Graphic woodcuts and colorful paintings abounded. Nyumba ya Sanaa's distinctive style asserted itself throughout the works. In addition, the art mainly portrayed daily life in Tanzania. The depiction of community was joyous and beautiful, but the works tended to blend together in their similarity. The show seems to have been put together as a celebratory testament, not a curated artistic statement. I'll admit that I prefer the latter style. The exhibit was by no means bad; it just was not especially thrilling.

One artist, however, stood out. George Lilanga's colorful pastels depicted common human feelings and situations. With titles like Itching Throat and Happy Moment, his pieces brought life to the daily challenges and joys people experience. Misunderstanding is pictured above. A beautiful batik banner by Lilanga also added variety to the show.

A bit of wall text confirmed my thoughts about Lilanga standing out from his peers saying: "Many people also credit George Lilanga…with beginning the era of personalized styles in African art."

I always think it's interesting to notice which piece from a show is chosen for an exhibit's promotional images and advertising. That one of George Lilanga's colorful pastels graces the exhibition poster perhaps suggests his work is the most immediately compelling in the show. I certainly thought it was.

Though Lilanga's was the only particularly exciting work, the exhibit as whole did a wonderful job of introducing Tanzanian culture. Some geographical and cultural tidbits were provided in a wall display, which contextualized the art. For example, the display provided information about the local wildlife—wildebeests, goats, lions—which appeared frequently in the show's prints and paintings. The exhibit's presence itself brought attention to Tanzania, a part of the world I realized I know very little about. This is what I enjoyed most. The art was not groundbreaking, but I liked filling in an empty spot in my knowledge of the world.

Nyumba ya Sanaa: Works From The Maryknoll Collection
September 5 through October 20, 2013
Syracuse University Art Galleries
Shaffer Art Building
More information here.

Images:
George Lilanga, Misunderstanding, 1977, ink and pastel on wove paper [X]

Sources / Further Reading:
SUArt Galleries. Syracuse University News: SUArt Galleries Exhibition ‘Nyumba ya Sanaa: Works from the Maryknoll Collection’ Opens Sept. 5 [X]
SUArt Galleries: Nyumba ya Sanaa: Works From The Maryknoll Collection [X]