Makerere University researcher, Dr Stella Nyanzi recently broke the Internet when she staged a naked protest against being locked out of her office by her boss, Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, and now her bold act has been documented on canvas with the master stroke of painter Collin Sekajugo.
Sekajugo is currently running an art exhibition at CoSe Gallery in Kamwokya, that is based on Nyanzi’s protest. The exhibition that opened on May 21 is titled The Fist of Stella Nyanzi.
Nyanzi herself visited the gallery and she was blown away by the works.
“While there are wide disparities in the responses to my powerful use of nudity and profanity, alongside other symbolic acts such as chaining myself, sealing my lips with tape, and defacing the walls of my oppressor’s office, some artists were inspired to produce amazing artistic pieces,” Nyanzi said about the collection.
“In the fight against one’s oppression by agents embedded within powerful systemic structures, we use whatever we have at our exposure to fight for our humanness. Use what you have to fight what you have to fight. Fight to win!! I am both delighted and humbled that this particular social justice artist found resonance with my struggle. Aluta continua!” she added.
At the gallery, Nyanzi recreated her fist rising gesture, only that this time she was dressed.
“Art pieces from the exhibition inspire me this morning to think about the power of art within social movements. I raised my fist many times at the exhibition because I love the defiance it represents. This symbol of the raised fist transports me back to several other struggles the world has witnessed through human history.”
The artist hopes that his exhibition will not be politicised.
“While some folks might drag this socially motivated gesture into Uganda’s political mud, I am overly delighted that the subject herself honoured my invite to the exhibition,” he said.
The exhibition is running until 4th June 2016 at CoSe Gallery which is located in the Weaver Bird Arts Foundation building next to the football field close to Kiira Road Police Station in Kampala.
Entrance if free.
