Evarist Chikawe's affair with colour

By +Caroline Anande Uliwa @CarolAnande-Instagram @CarolAnande-Facebook @CarolAnande-Twitter

Evarist Chikawe posing
with some of his latest work, here is where
I caught him inside JNC convention centre
in DSM

As I looked at this painting, I couldn't help but notice a tension rising within me. My mind was rebelling this presentation. How come this abstract work is so exact? 

The subject for instance, a figurine of a woman is not realist its an abstract rendering. Yet upon a closer look, you see her proportions are in total symmetry, her face is an exact circle, the swirl like flowers of her mane repeat in a consistent pattern.

As I kept staring I realised, I was looking at an experts work. For only a skilled painter could communicate this oxymoron if you will, of a very measured mess. And isn't life our quest to pull the messy unknown into perfect symmetry.

I bumped into Evarist Chikawe 43, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre, where Vipaji Gallery. Had a stall in the SITE tourism expo of 2017. Evarist is the Studio Manager of Vipaji Gallery www.vipajifoundation.org/.

A fine artist himself, he has been in the craft since the early 90's. When he came from his home town Mtwara as an apprentice inside Nyumba ya Sanaa, he almost didn't get in save for the graces of the late Sister Jean. 

Evarist's work at the 'Tous les Arts
Festival' in Condom Gers, France in 2016

"Sister Jean kufariki kumensikitisha sana, alikuwa kama mzazi wangu kwenye sanaa. Ni mwalimu wangu kwenye mambo mengi sana ya sanaa, alikuwa mtu muhimu sana kwangu. Yeye hakuwa msanii moja kwa moja, lakini ni mtu ambaye ana ufahamu sana na fani hii haswa kuandaa na kupangilia vitu kwenye sanaa. Alikuwa zaidi ya mpenzi wa sanaa, ni mtu aliyekuwa na sanaa kwenye moyo wake alikuwa hawezi kuishi bila sanaa.." Evarist

Evarist has exhibited his works within and outside Tanzania and is renowned among his peers. Last year Vipaji Gallery in Oysterbay, Dar es Salaam. Showcased a retrospective exhibition of his works since 2000. His style has morphed over the years but always his innate knowledge of colour comes through in his artworks.

More recent works of
Evarist

He recalls certain key moments that elevated his career, one was in 2006 when grudgingly he attended a workshop from a Kenyan fine artist on the use of Pastels. 

"Mimi nilifananisha pastels na crayons, kwa kweli sikutaka ata kusikia habari za 'pastels'. Sikuamini zinaweza kutoa picha nzuri, ila nilivyozitumia kwenye workshop. Kweli naendelea mpaka sasa hivi...sio vizuri kuganda kwenye aina moja ya kuchora waweza kuta unajifunga. Kabla ya hapa nilikuwa napenda sana acrylics...kwenye 'acrilic' huwezi kupata ile kitu kabisa." Evarist

In 2014 he was sponsored to participate in a summer school at the Salzburg, International Summer Academy of Fine Art in Germany. In his group which was taught by creditable fine artist Norbet Bisky http://www.norbertbisky.com/#installation. He was happy that all the painters were experienced fine artists.

Evarist chatting with audiennces at the
'Close Up' exhibition earlier this year in Munich 
Germany in which he sold over 10 paintings

Norbet Bisky thus urged them to strengthen their partnership going forward. In 2015 he invited them to send their works, in an exhibition in Austria and they all sent their works including Evarist. In 2016 they managed to all fly to another exhibition at Norbet's prompting titled 'PopUp 2 Group Exhibition' in Munich Germany. 

This year he was fortunate to participate in another group exhibition with his former class mates. Titled 'Close Up' in Osnabruck Hanover Germany. He managed to sell over 10 paintings, he recalls not having such success since 2008 in Europe.

Evarist remarks that fine art in the country, is still appreciated more by foreigners than the local market. Though he adds that there has been 15% increase in sales over the last decade from Tanzanians. Which he sees as progress. You can reach Evarist through this number +255 754 814432  or through vipaji gallery offices in Oysterbay, Dar es Salaam.

In 2014, Evarist in Salzburg Germany
participating in the Summer Academy that 
met him with Norbet Bisky who has elevated his career 

Evarist's works in Europe in 2016, 
isn't his use of color divine
particularly in those palm trees piece...

Evarist's work presented in a hard cover book, that is amemoir of 'Nyumba ya Sanaa' before it was demolished.You can see Evarist's style has evolved over the years
this was in 1993