The two paintings by Sane Wadu (1954-) of Kenya reel with painterly energy and intensity.
Untitled ‘s rich palate, patches of white highlighting and undulating forms underscore the
seductive nature of the painting. In describing this piece, Sane refers to it as a “part of
nature” – a jumble of men, women and animals experiencing natural emotional instincts.
Leisure Rider, a mass of bodies, heads, chains and wheels, “is about people who love to lean on others
without sweat.” As a rider you give up control and are carried, unthinking, into unimaginable
situations. In this instance the rider has become embroiled in a political scenario that has him
and many others caught in chains. When one stops thinking, one cannot escape. It is only in the
moment you start thinking again and become a rebel that you have a chance. Both paintings
challenge the viewer to a closer study in order to decipher where one figure starts and another
finishes as shapes meld into each other, defined only by black lines or shadows. In both,
emotion speaks through the eyes. An interesting anecdote about Sane is that he gave himself the
name “Sane” when he quit his teaching job, abandoning the stability of a regular salary, to
become an artist. The new name was in reaction to his friends saying he was “insane” to do that!
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