Artist Ken Namalomba rebrands, tackles social ills through art  

No more time for decoration art. Creative painting artist, Ken Namalomba has taken new direction in his career through which he will venture into social political art to create a platform for discussion and debate concerning some of the ills the country’s citizenry face.

One of Namalomba paintings

Namalomba has since launched an art movement dubbed “Our Voice Through Art Movement” aimed at using art as a medium for change in the society.

Speaking during unveiling of his latest painting “Broken Love” on Thursday at KwaHaraba Art Gallery in Blantyre Namalomba said was on the move to restore art’s lost value.

“I am rebranding and becoming something different from what I used to be. I am no longer doing commercial art, now will be doing what I call social political art. Its time artists use art to speak about ills our society face,” said Namalomba.

He noted that for long time artists have been doing art for pressure, and called on all artists to embrace the changes taking place in the society and become the voice of the voiceless.

“Artists should stimulate critical thinking that will influence social and economic development. It’s all what we were and what we have become.”

Broken Love painting is being sold at K7.5 million and it tackles some of social ills such shortage of drugs, diseases, theft of public funds and as albino abduction and killings the country has been experiencing.

During the unveiling the audience the chance to express their views about the painting with speakers pointing out how Malawi as a country has failed to develop as her people continue to blame the authorities instead of taking action themselves.

Namalomba studied Bachelors of Arts Humanities majoring in Philosophy and Fine Art at Chancellor College (Chanco) in 2010 but started painting at age of 13 after his father’s death who was also an artist.

He was once awarded Art Genius Achievement Award. He is currently working on two self-sponsored projects “Why?” which is a reaction to the abduction and killings of people living with albinism, and “A Surprise For Mr. President” which delves into the country’s political history.

The unveiling event was spiced up by performances by poet Yankho Seunda and musical performance by Yang Chitika.

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kendall
kendall
7 years ago

Its high time malawians started to realise the value of art and what role it can play in social-political as well as economic transformation. Bravo mr Namalomba

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