Thom Ogonga
Quadranscentennial
25 year journey
Kenyan born Thom Ogonga is an artist who specialises in painting and printmaking. He is inspired by fashion, music, urban lifestyles and even more fascinated by interpersonal relationships.
Quadranscentennial represents a recently created body of work that explores some of the themes and processes the artist has enjoyed over his 25-year artistic journey. Over this period, Ogonga has explored different artistic approaches and techniques while experimenting with different media and discovered that he enjoys creating two-dimensional works through drawing, painting and printmaking. These works plug into the artist’s general subjects of interest and are a celebration of his Silver Jubilee as a practicing professional artist.
The paintings and limited-edition woodcut prints look at physical human interactions in different settings and spaces and non-verbal communication in everyday situations. They highlight the current trend in the Nairobi social scene of using electronic banners as a tool of marketing and messaging that is deployed mostly by the younger generation to disenfranchise certain demographics in a bid to bypass them as they negotiate sometimes contraband substances and illegal liaisons.
It is a playful representation of the sometimes precarious space that Nairobi is, often littered with substance abuse, excessive gambling and promiscuity, most of which is illegal but hidden in plain sight.
Quadranscentennial represents a recently created body of work that explores some of the themes and processes the artist has enjoyed over his 25-year artistic journey. Over this period, Ogonga has explored different artistic approaches and techniques while experimenting with different media and discovered that he enjoys creating two-dimensional works through drawing, painting and printmaking. These works plug into the artist’s general subjects of interest and are a celebration of his Silver Jubilee as a practicing professional artist.
The paintings and limited-edition woodcut prints look at physical human interactions in different settings and spaces and non-verbal communication in everyday situations. They highlight the current trend in the Nairobi social scene of using electronic banners as a tool of marketing and messaging that is deployed mostly by the younger generation to disenfranchise certain demographics in a bid to bypass them as they negotiate sometimes contraband substances and illegal liaisons.
It is a playful representation of the sometimes precarious space that Nairobi is, often littered with substance abuse, excessive gambling and promiscuity, most of which is illegal but hidden in plain sight.
Artist's Statement
Born, bred, schooled, living and working in Nairobi city, I am interested in the daily happenings of the space I live in and even more fascinated by the nocturnal activities. All the things that color the night; bar brawls, disco scenes, gambling, prostitution among others, excite the artist in me and feature prominently in my artistic practice.
My work is very figurative and representative of a “typical night out in the city” and is most often satirical. It sheds light on the hypocritical culture of being “responsible citizens” during the day and the total opposite when the sun goes down.
I am also interested in identity and socio-political narratives and interrogation as sub-themes of my work, though on an individual project basis. These are mainly influenced by the political situation in my country; bad governance, cronyism, corruption and our lack of a clear identity as a result of being Africans strongly influenced by colonization, religion, western education and global consumerism.
Alongside my studio practice, I am also an independent curator interested in documenting the Kenyan Contemporary art scene through critical writing. My texts have featured in reputable publications globally; I self-publish on my personal blog – www.thealternativewriter.blogspot.com. I am the founder/creative director of Nairobi Contemporary – a critical artist led platform, commentating and contributing to the discourse of the regional art scene.
Thom Ogonga - Nairobi - 2024
Biography
Born (1975) in Nairobi – Kenya, Thom Ogonga is an artist specialising in painting and printmaking.
He is inspired by fashion, music, urban lifestyles and by the controversial city nightlife. All the activities that colour the night excite the artist in him and predominantly feature prominently as the theme of his work.
He has exhibited widely; featured in numerous public art projects and artist residencies, both locally and abroad.
He was awarded the 2nd prize in the painting category in the ‘Elysee Treaty Competition’ in 2006.