26 April 2024

Author: Zhimin Zhang

Bwambale Wesely (b.1994), is a figurative portraiture visual artist, from Kampala, Uganda. Bwambale currently lives and works in Kampala, Uganda.

Morning Hour, 2023, oil on canvas, 130 x 110 cm

I first became interested in Bwambale’s work through his exhibition at the Thierry Goldberg Gallery in 2023. I was drawn to the vibrant and passionate spirit conveyed in his pieces, which I later discovered is also a reflection of his own personality. The spontaneity in his art made me feel like it effortlessly flowed from him, mirroring his own life experiences. In his creative process, he sometimes acts as an invisible observer, capturing moments of people around him (mostly women), deep in thought on summer nights or engaged in intimate conversations, while at other times he actively participates, laughing joyously alongside the figures on his canvas.

Hot Hours, 2023, Oil on canvas, 130 x 110 cm

One aspect that intrigued me about Bwambale is how, as an artist living and working in Uganda, navigated entry into Western markets.

Bwambale was born in Kasese, a city in western Uganda. Kasese is a well-known tourist destination, and during our conversation, he frequently mentioned the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. This national park, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, is home to rare, endemic, and endangered species. Notably, the Rwenzori Mountains are the highest non-volcanic, non-fold mountain range in the world, formed by geological processes distinct from volcanic activity or tectonic collision, possibly through crustal uplift or other structural activities. These mountains have been associated with the legendary “Mountains of the Moon,” described in ancient accounts as the source of the Nile.

Rwenzori Mountains⁠

In Bwambale’s recent piece, ‘The old village’, he playfully references the “Moon Girls,” connecting back to this myth.

The old village (village home), 2023, oil on canvas, 150 x 150 cm

Kasese is both a popular tourist destination and home to various craft shops, an environment that influenced Bwambale from a young age. In 2013, he earned a diploma in Industrial Art and Design from the Michelangelo College of Industrial Art, followed by an Industrial Art and Design degree from Kyambogo University.

Bwambale did not come from an artistic family; most of his family was in business. After graduation, he, too, engaged in commerce for a period before returning to painting. Although Bwambale may not have been the first artist in his family, as his unseen grandfather was a wood sculptor primarily creating religious sculptures, he is recognized as the first artist of his generation. During university, Bwambale studied sculpture. Before the 2019 pandemic, he even spent time in China creating art for the African Cultural Park.

Bwambale in China

When he first returned to oil painting, Bwambale faced challenges in gaining recognition from local galleries. Learning about the artist Amoako Boafo’s journey provided him with significant encouragement. Bwambale persisted by posting his work on Instagram and other social platforms. With the Black Lives Matter movement, he gradually began collaborating with international galleries.

Growing up in a female-dominated household naturally led Bwambale to focus his early work on women in his life. ‘I mainly talk about people around me, what they love, what they wish to be, I read stories out of them. I grew up in a family with three girls and my mom. I paint a lot of my sisters. The more I draw them, the more I love their feminine character, sisters, friends, my girlfriend, my mom, and neighbors.’ ‘Sometimes I ask people to make a pose for me, as I do sketch, I talk to these people about their daily life, and what they are going through.’ It is through such conversations that Bwambale derives the themes and titles for his works. For example, one of his pieces titled “The Girl Talk” depicts a scene of his two sisters engaged in conversation.

The Girl Talk, 2023, oil on canvas, 150 x 150 cm

When discussing colors, Bwambale mentioned that he chooses vibrant colors, especially orange, because when he listens to the conversations of the figures on his canvas, those dialogues are filled with hope and anticipation for the future, much like his own outlook. He stated, “When you listen to their stories, they have hope, they want their future to be bright.”

Bwambale in his studio

Regarding his favorite artists, Bwambale mentioned historical figures like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, as well as contemporary artists like Kerry James Marshall and Barkley L. Hendricks. Among Ugandan artists, he admires Paul Ndema, Daudi Karungi, and Godwin Champs Namuyimba.

In his next series of works, Bwambale plans to incorporate elements of Kasese’s local landscapes and flora. He will also continue collaborating with the Thierry Goldberg Gallery this year.

Bwambale Wesely: https://www.instagram.com/bwambalewesely/