After waxing lyrical on Facebook about the Henry Tayali Gallery here in Lusaka, a visiting friend decided she wanted to find out what all the fuss is about. We went over on Saturday to find that the Augustudio exhibition had ended and been replaced with a collection by well established artists. My friend was impressed and we got talking to one of the most active artists Kapotwe whose abstract and vibrant paintings are often comments on social issues facing Zambia, particularly in connection with the environment.
Kapotwe chatted with us about his process of producing a painting and how he doesn't always know when he starts, what the work will explore. He simply paints and decides from what ends up on the canvas, what the painting will depict. He then mentioned that he sculpts too and we asked to see some examples. He led us out of the gallery to some studios in another part of the Showgrounds, outside the studios were some wonderful figures and animals made from scrap metal which were by Kapotwe and fellow artist Joseph.
