The Art of Touch and Feel

Exploring possibilities with other senses to draw…. I explored my face through touch and feel while closing my eyes…. The resultant portraits were the most honest scribbles my touch could feel without sight…… I was rather inclined to connecting dots of memory and feel through touch in relation to perceived reality as I quietly listen to my soul to sketch a clear picture of “WHO AM I” This is aimed at challenging my usual ways and forms of drawing with my sight as a primary sense.

Ian Mwesiga

Ian Mwesiga graduated with a BA Industrial Fine Art & Design from Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and fine Arts at Makerere University (2014). He has undertaken two residencies at 32° East | Ugandan Arts Trust (2014) and Kuona Trust (2014) where he rebelled against the realist techniques he was taught at university. He has exhibited his works in a solo exhibition at Makerere University(MIHCR) Melancholy (2015), AKA Gallery (2014) as well as numerous group exhibitions; Framer Framed forward ever Backward never in Amsterdam (2015) East African Encounters, Circle Art Agency (2014); The Water Exhibition, Mish Mash (2012); Playing With Colors, Victoria Gallery Serena Hotel Kampala (2012). He has also participated in KLA ART 014, Kampala Contemporary Art Festival (2014), LaBa Street Art Festival (2014) and Nuvo Art Festival, AKA Gallery (2012). He also participated in the Moving Africa, Dak’art Biennale (2014). He was shortlisted for the Africa center AIR international residency (2014). He has attended the ‘AtWork’ workshop facilitated by Simon Njami (2015). He recently participated in the Asiko School program (2015) in Maputo facilitated by Bisi Silva and CCA Lagos. He currently lives and works in Kampala.

Links:

Media/Press

The Harlow Magazine, USA
http://theharlow.net/32-eastugandan-arts‐trust‐ian-mwesiga/
Start journal, Uganda
http://startjournal.org/2013/12/jaguza-art-that-is-open-to-everyone/
The Uganda Arts Diary, Kampala
https://www.facebook.com/ugandaartsdiary
32° EAST Video Profile
https://vimeo.com/74714104
The Independent Magazine, Kampala
http://www.independent.co.ug/society/society/8580-capturing-thoughts-randomly www.independent.co.ug/…/10377-religious-look-at-nu

New Vision-Mar 11, 2014, Kampala
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/653436-ian-mwesiga-s-mature-and-radical-approach-to-life-and-art.html
Saturday Monitor, Kampala
8th/March/2014 (Expressing emotions through art)
Kuona Trust Nairobi
kuonatrust.org/ian-mwesiga/
Nairobi Now
https://nairobinow.wordpress.com/tag/ian-mwesiga/

Asiko art school in Maputo
www.asikoartschool.org/ian-mwesiga/
New Vision-Jun 22, 2015
Giving in to Melancholy; one artist’s take on life
Makerere Art Gallery (MIHCR)
https://makerereartgallery.wordpress.com/…/ian-mwesiga-melancholy-4/
Zambia Daily Mail-Jul 24, 2015
Asiko: History of contemporary art
The Observer (blog)-Jun 5, 2014, Kampala
Laba street art festival on