Elly Tumwine

Elly Tumwine, a committed patriot and sensitive artist, paints in oil on canvas and board. It is obvious that for him the subject matter has priority. As historical member of the first fighters to join Museveni in the bush war, he is still involved in various capacities in the Government and the armed forces.

His influence combined with his position as Patron of the Ugandan Artist Association, Director of the Cultural Centre and Chairman of the Ugandan Artists Promotion Committee simplify the artists' national and international connections.

Although trained in the Western European art tradition, he is deeply dedicated to the Ugandan culture. In search and study of genuine patterns he discovered the unique wall painting art of the Bahima (South-East Ugandan ethnic group). In many of his works he translates these typical black and white patterns into colors.

Tumwine paints forms in flat, bold areas delimitated with heavy lines in darker hues, and limits his palette to somber browns and purple adding occasionally grim greens and reds. There are hardly more than five characters in his paintings.

His love for children and his concern for their well-being can often be found in his work. Tumwine is very African in his expression and his focus remains deeply grounded in the soil of his motherland.

Exhibitions:

Artworks (Click the pictures to see an enlargement):

1. "Africa 2000" - Oil / Canvas - 90 x 120 cm
2. "Cry the Beloved Continent" (1993) - Oil / Canvas - 62 x 91 cm
3. "There is Hope" (1993) - Oil / Wood - 47 x 62 cm