National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN): Papa Shikongeni Exhibition

‘Optimist’: An Exhibition by Papa Shikongeni

Ndasuunje Shikongeni, who is popularly known as “Papa”, is a Namibian internationally recognized visual artist; he is also storyteller, spiritual believer and leader in Namibia’s post-independence arts education and culture.

In his visual arts, Shikongeni has worked extensively in wood and paper mache sculpture and pioneered novel techniques in printmaking by using cardboard, painting, ink on paper and linoleum, he is also created with the innovation zips technique stretched on frame.

In the past decade, Shikongeni’s works, which depicting different aspects of Namibian culture and traditions, have been showcased around the world. Since the early 1990s, Shikongeni has hosted 16 solo exhibitions and over 40 group exhibition in countries including, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Uganda, Burundi, Zambia, London, The UK, Germany, Russia and Norway.

Shikongeni has also lectured at John Maufangejo Art Centre, Rundu College of Education, Ongwediva College of Education, and been a visual art facilitator for the National Art Extension Programme with the College of the Arts. From 2002-2009 Papa was Centre Director of the John Muafangejo Art Centre, Namibia’s training ground for young artists in different disciplines. He continues to lecture at the College of the Arts.

Shikongeni’s latest exhibition, titled ‘Optimist’ will open at the Main Gallery of the National Art Gallery of Namibia on Wednesday, 7 August 2013. ‘Optimist’ is special exhibition not only for Shikongeni but also from the National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) as it will be his first exhibition in the national gallery in eight years.

Written by: Selma Kaulinge (PRO: National Art Gallery of Namibia)

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