about the artist
KALVIN ZANE RUTAGENGWA is a Rwandan self educated painter and sculptor for more than seven years, born April 24th 1987 in Maseru, Lesotho and raised in Kigali Rwanda.
Kalvin discovered his artistic talent at earlier age as he could remember. At age of six when he first drew a portrait of his father that was hung in the living room an event which surprised the whole family and from where he got the first encouragement and support, the family. “the first and the best gift I have ever loved in my life is the sketchbook, a package of pencil, a sharpener, two rubbers, two packages of colored pencils and crayons, I received that day, it really built an artistic zeal that was lay inside of me, it was a wonderful gift in life still is and it has moved me through ages up to now” Said Kalvin.
He continuously grew up in the creativity mood of drawing cartoons and play with forming things which he calls sculptures of the early childhood, like constructions of cars using wires, cardboard houses and forming people’s faces and their daily lives using locally found objects,
Conscious of the Rwanda 1994 genocide aftermath, and motivated by the governmental yearly theme on commemoration days, Kalvin after high school graduation stood up to help orphans and widows through paintings and sculptures where he collaborates with some local NGOs to conduct charitable exhibitions and workshops to help the victims of genocide and vulnerable children in both orphanages and hospitals, and gave art lessons to young orphans to help them build their lives on art instead of becoming street beggars. His works back in 7 years were based on peace and reconciliation. He is now volunteering by giving art lessons to the orphans at St Emmanuel Orphanage and he is looking forward to work with HOPE&HOMES FOR CHILDREN in near future as he believes that what he was freely gifted in can contribute to the society.
His varied experiences add technical expertise and originality to his work; he holds a high school degree in literature 2005 and he is now pursuing his bachelor degree as a part time student in Arts and public administration at Mount Kenya University, Kigali campus.
He has thought fine art at Green Hills academy for two academic years Mars 2009-2011 and gave many workshops and lectures to both locally and nationally.
Kalvin now works fulltime at IVUKA ARTS CENTER, Kigali- Rwanda.
Kalvin discovered his artistic talent at earlier age as he could remember. At age of six when he first drew a portrait of his father that was hung in the living room an event which surprised the whole family and from where he got the first encouragement and support, the family. “the first and the best gift I have ever loved in my life is the sketchbook, a package of pencil, a sharpener, two rubbers, two packages of colored pencils and crayons, I received that day, it really built an artistic zeal that was lay inside of me, it was a wonderful gift in life still is and it has moved me through ages up to now” Said Kalvin.
He continuously grew up in the creativity mood of drawing cartoons and play with forming things which he calls sculptures of the early childhood, like constructions of cars using wires, cardboard houses and forming people’s faces and their daily lives using locally found objects,
Conscious of the Rwanda 1994 genocide aftermath, and motivated by the governmental yearly theme on commemoration days, Kalvin after high school graduation stood up to help orphans and widows through paintings and sculptures where he collaborates with some local NGOs to conduct charitable exhibitions and workshops to help the victims of genocide and vulnerable children in both orphanages and hospitals, and gave art lessons to young orphans to help them build their lives on art instead of becoming street beggars. His works back in 7 years were based on peace and reconciliation. He is now volunteering by giving art lessons to the orphans at St Emmanuel Orphanage and he is looking forward to work with HOPE&HOMES FOR CHILDREN in near future as he believes that what he was freely gifted in can contribute to the society.
His varied experiences add technical expertise and originality to his work; he holds a high school degree in literature 2005 and he is now pursuing his bachelor degree as a part time student in Arts and public administration at Mount Kenya University, Kigali campus.
He has thought fine art at Green Hills academy for two academic years Mars 2009-2011 and gave many workshops and lectures to both locally and nationally.
Kalvin now works fulltime at IVUKA ARTS CENTER, Kigali- Rwanda.
statement
The powers of art lie between the middle of our mind and our surroundings, whenever you have the ability, love and time to behold how amazingly shapes, lines, colors and change of tones interact to make the beauty of our surroundings. There is a beauty to behold, it is a matter of give it a time. Whenever I walk around I never miss a single second to turn around and see, always capturing images in my mind and when I have a camera I don’t make it to the destination on time. Art connect us to the images and take us through the ages, it goes far beyond the words. Art is everywhere and make part of our everyday life.
I get most of my inspirations from the nature and the world we live in, foremost everything that I see, feel, and experience, so perfect in every detail, the world is art. Take a closer look, there is so much beauty to behold.
I believe that art has the powerful ability to heal, to create better worlds and new realities. And images play a big role into this. Our history begins with images which go far back in time, even farther than languages, and are cross cultural. We are united through images. I keep this in mind daily as I paint with the conviction that my images can heal both physically and emotionally, especially when the viewer can read through them.
While I use a variety of medium and processes in each project to communicate my arts, some of my subject matter tend to focus on social and cultural environment, the strength, fights and courage of women to change the world, people’s daily routines, the evolution of mankind, the development of towns and cities more and more cars and the consequences this has to the nature.
I have always loved and inspired by both local and international artists’ works like Collin Sekajugo, Olojo Kosoko, Kolawole, Fidelis Odogwu, El Anatsui, nyarko kwabena Julia Cher, Hilary Winfield and Nancy Reiner.
I get most of my inspirations from the nature and the world we live in, foremost everything that I see, feel, and experience, so perfect in every detail, the world is art. Take a closer look, there is so much beauty to behold.
I believe that art has the powerful ability to heal, to create better worlds and new realities. And images play a big role into this. Our history begins with images which go far back in time, even farther than languages, and are cross cultural. We are united through images. I keep this in mind daily as I paint with the conviction that my images can heal both physically and emotionally, especially when the viewer can read through them.
While I use a variety of medium and processes in each project to communicate my arts, some of my subject matter tend to focus on social and cultural environment, the strength, fights and courage of women to change the world, people’s daily routines, the evolution of mankind, the development of towns and cities more and more cars and the consequences this has to the nature.
I have always loved and inspired by both local and international artists’ works like Collin Sekajugo, Olojo Kosoko, Kolawole, Fidelis Odogwu, El Anatsui, nyarko kwabena Julia Cher, Hilary Winfield and Nancy Reiner.