Michael Soi is a Kenyan artist who lives and works in Nairobi , where he is widely respected and sought after in the burgeoning contemporary art scene. Soi’s artistic style is a highly distinctive one. His work is playful and cryptic as many of his paintings provide commentary on everyday socio-political issues. His unforgiving yet witty gaze focuses on political impunity, greed, morality and most other things that Kenyans deal with daily.
Michael Soi’s paintings are informed by a strong tradition of cartoonists whose works have satirised Kenyan society since independence - often bravely poking fun at the political establishment. His concern is with lucidity of form and legibility of message; in the process he has created his own unique pictorial language.
Michael is one of eight Kenyan artists whose work was selected for the illustrious Bonhams charity art auction in London. One of his paintings featured on the cover of the Art Africa Collector’s edition. The work was sold at a record price. Recently he has been awarded several international fellowships, with the latest one being in Denmark.
Soi has made waves in the art scene for a while now and his work has taken him all over the world. His current exhibition is in Cape Town, South Africa.
His work will be exhibited at the Nini Gallery in what will be a series of exhibitions of East African art, Soi is first on the roster of East African artist to showcase their work.The show opens up on Thursday the 2nd of June 2016 in cooperation with youngblood africa arts and culture development. THe show runs from the 2nd of June to the 30th of June 2016.
Q and A with Michael Soi
Why Cape Town?
I just felt I needed to have a show in an alternative space. I like South Africa. It’s the country I have visited the most number of times in all my travels. I have friends over there and this was largely inflected by the fact that I decided to show internationally this year. But who wouldn’t love Cape Town?
Why now?
I felt like it was time. It is my first show in Cape Town. Plus as an artist, you need to plan. So I did for 3 international shows this year. The first was in Kampala in March then Cape Town and then Copenhagen in Denmark. So I planned all of them to end by mid June so I can go to France and watch the Euro football and of course, go to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa
What has changed for you in the art space? What’s different in your career?
A lot has changed. The systems are now producing half-baked artist unlike in the 90’s and early this century. It has become tougher! But as artist, we must be able to embrace change. I have had to. To me the most important thing is my career. Seeking new audiences to my work. Trying to tell my story the way I want it told.
And your bags?
My bags? What bags? Those are pieces of contemporary African art. Period. This was me trying to get local people to own an original piece of art. I am happy to say I have bags in literally all countries except probably North Korea. It is an experiment that took a life of its own and 5023 bags later, I am happy as one can be.
What are your future plans?
Reclaim my social life…LOL Been to busy creating a career. But hey, just to keep telling the story of this great city called Nairobi.
SOCIAL
Facebook : The Art Of Michael Soi
Twitter: @michaelsoi
