(Social) Realism: Uganda

David Kezio-Musoke
David Kezio-Musoke is a 33-years-old Ugandan journalist who is stationed in Rwanda since three years and currently works for the Kenyan Nation Media Group, representing the interests of the Daily Nation, The Monitor, and The East African in Kigali. His life is divided between mainstream journalism and an increasing commitment to what used to be his pastime: painting.

David is a Musoga, the tribe that populates the eastern part of the Nile, and belongs to a very artistic family. ”My siblings and I are all fine artists, but only two of them studied art at a professional level. We all learnt how to draw from my mother who was a teacher but most of what I do is self-taught.” During high school – despite his teachers’ skepticism – David chose to combine art and science: ”I did physics, chemistry, biology and art at A level. In Uganda this is considered a ‘crazy choice’ because one is not supposed to mix physical sciences with humanities.” But David knew that his career would not be in any field of science and he was equally sure that the passion for art would instead remain. ”At the university, I ended up sharing the room with art students who mainly produced abstract art. These students were very hard working but I must admit that, with all due respect for the abstract artists, I do despise abstract art. I am unable to appreciate it fully. Instead, I have always had an admiration for people who produce figurative art, which is the kind of art that ‘makes sense’, that represents forms that are recognisably derived from life.”

http://cgiampietri.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/david-kezio-musoke-the-soul-of-an-artist/






















World (Social) Realist Art (Index of Countries)
This blog page is part of an ongoing project by artist and part-time lecturer Caoimhghin Ó Croidheáin (http://gaelart.net/) to explore Realist / Social Realist art from around the world. The term Realism is used in its broadest sense to include 19th century Realism and Naturalism as well as 20th century Impressionism (which after all was following in the path of Courbet and Millet). Social Realism covers art that seeks to examine the living and working conditions of ordinary people (examples include German Expressionism, American Ashcan School and the Mexican Muralists).

Click here for (Social) Realist Art Definitions, World (Social) Realism and Global Solidarity, Art and Politics, Social Realism in history and Country Index.

Suggestions for appropriate artists from around the world welcome to caoimhghin@yahoo.com.