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The first of a series of exhibitions known as 'Spherique Indian Ocean Art' is on at The Plan Hotels in Malindi. The Gallery which has its base in the Maldives has great plans for Indian Ocean Art – “to ignite the art scene at the Indian Ocean countries’ coasts” aiming to foster creativity beyond the touristic souvenir arts and crafts to more contemporary visual arts as spelt out on the show fliers. 

The exhibition offers said to be an opportunity to redefine the perception of art at the coast beyond the crafts is co-sponsored by the Plan Hotels.

It is a visual arts exhibition showcasing over 15 major artists including Adrian Nduma, Charles Kamya, Douglas Musyoki, Erick Shitawa, Geoffrey Mugwe, Idi Omari, Joshua Mainga, Joseph Cartoon, Mary Ogembo, Peter Elungat, Peter Ngugi, Peter Kenyanya, Robert Karanja, Salah Ammar, Sebastian Kiarie and Yassir Ali.

The show opened on the 26^th December and will continue for four months at the Coconut Beach, Tropical Village, Malindi Beach and Dream of Africa resorts - all part of the Plan Hotels.

The exhibition is organised and curated by William Ndwiga of The Little Art Gallery, Nairobi, an outfit that is slowly redefining ‘the visual art exhibition space’ locally. It has in the resent past one year organised exhibitions in spaces such as public areas and people’s homes with the aim of ‘taking Kenyan art to the people’.

The concept of Indian Ocean Art was hatched by Mr Carlo Cipolini, an art lover from Switzerland with the support of the Maldivian Government where he has business interests. He says the idea is to be having an annual international visual arts exhibition rotating around the Indian Ocean countries with Dubai as the hub.

These countries include artistically rich Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Tanzania and Kenya. It is hoped that as the exhibition grows, so will its coverage both in countries and genres of creativity exposed.

The project aims to cultivate the Indian Ocean region as an authority in arts and culture with an international export and tourism appeal.

And Ndwiga says that the coordinating body is The Spherique Indian Ocean Art Gallery which has created a network of local country links that are responsible for marshaling the local art scene towards the exhibition. “In Kenya, The Little Art Gallery is doing the ground work”.

Although the project has kicked off, organisers are still sourcing for funds and partners in the effort. The main sponsors who have been approached include HSBC, Emirates and Plan Hotels – the latter having so far come in into foray with a hosting offer.

“At the country levels, the organisers will be very interested in working hand in hand with the local Arts, Culture and Tourism organs of the government and private sector. The first international Indian Ocean Art exhibition will be in the Maldives and Dubailater in the year” He adds.

And the general sentiment of the people towards the exhibition is “amazing; they are, (visitors) especially captivated by the quality of Art on show. Ndwiga juxtaposed that it is such a breath of fresh air from the constantly duplicated ‘red Maasai’ paintings and shabbily done wildlife art on the Kenyan curio shops and beaches”

In March, The Plan Hotels intends to make an exclusive invitation to the exhibition to participating artists, Kenyan art collectors, private and public sector dignitaries with an interest for arts and culture in the country.