November 7, 2008 The achingly rich color palate found in the works of artist Salum Kambi are made all the more striking when one realizes that amazingly, he has had no formal art training. It is thanks to fellow Tanzanian artists Raza Mohamed, Mr. Mwenesi from the University of Dar es Salaam and cartoonist Gado (Godfrey Mwampemba) that Kambi was able to begin learning many different painting skills. Born in 1970 in Dar es Salaam, the Tanzania artist works primarily in Oil & Acrylic. Kambi's technique, inwhich he uses either a palate knife or a fine brush, sometimes both can best be described as a coming together of Lyrical Abstract & Fauvism. The result of combining the two? Breathtaking works that burn with a bold yet accessible color intensity. Kambi loves painting women as he feels strongly that in Africa it is women who sacrifice the most for the sake of their families.
In 2004, Salum Kambi was the first Tanzanian artist to be selected for the Africa Festival in Rome, Italy. That same year, one of his paintings was chosen for the reception building of the State House in Dar es Salaam. Since then, his works have been shown and collected in several countries Finland, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, and Italy). In 2007 one of his works was chosen for the home of Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. Salum Kambi is a member of the WASANII arts Group. The artist will be in attendance for what promises to be a culturally rich exhibition. |