African art exhibition at All Saints
AFRICAN Mothers, an exhibition of paintings by Emmanuel Eyomu, a young Ugandan artist, including photographs taken by Margaret Stevens, is currently on show at Loughborough’s All Saints Church, Steeple Row.
The exhibition is designed to celebrate and honour the lives of women and is being staged throughout August.
Margaret, from Loughborough, said: “I first met Emmanuel in 2009 when I visited Jane, one of his seven younger siblings, and her family living in a refugee camp in Teso, north eastern Uganda.”
The family was living in one small leaky, dilapidated grass-thatched hut.
Margaret added: “Emmanuel had managed to earn enough money to take himself to art college for a year – but soon found there was no money to be earned from art.
“The rest of the children all dropped out of school, until the sponsorship programme I set up took Jane to secondary school. Jane has now qualified as a medical assistant and runs a rural health centre.
Emmanuel has written: “I grew up as my mum’s helper and best friend to her. We shared a lot together on how to up bring my brothers and sister. We passed through tough conditions - wars, hunger, diseases, cultural calamities, poverty, abandonment, which led us into homelessness, poverty and living a painful life. I have slept on streets, in bushes, churches, camps, slums.
“I have seen my neighbours die because of wars and hunger, but I and my mum stood with each other’s faith - until now, we are all alive.
“My paintings are not really about war and death but about smiling in a poor condition with or without food. When you make your hands dirty, you can dig something out.
“I make reflections about how to live your life, especially African mothers and their children, which is also a reflection about politics, social and cultural context in which misfortunes and all crises happen, leaving many homeless, dead and depressed in one way or the other.”
The church is open at the following times during the month: After any church service. 11.30am - 12.30pm on Sundays ,
5.30pm on Sundays prior to the Summer Organ Recitals.
And 10am - 12noon every Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings.
Everyone is welcome – entry is free.