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While it shines, bask! (Tomorrow there may be clouds.) -Nyanja of Malawi proverb Simon Mungai is a personal discovery, as well as a personal favorite. A student in the early 90's, he produced as many as ten known paintings - and here you see six. After a short productive period, he mysteriously dropped out of the Nairobi painting scene, and hasn't been heard from since. When inquiring as to his whereabouts, nobody knows - which is a shame as his talent is amazing.
A common characteristic in Mungai's paintings, and of particular interest, is the fine detail of the jewelry and adornments worn by the people, and for example, the gourd in 'Always Dreaming'. Every bead between every colored shell or bone is distinct. Rarely seen in watercolors is this fine-handed precision of detail in clarity and color. Mungai is also adept at setting a mood, usually that of desperate hopelessness (or is it lack of motivation?). Most of his characters are motionless - sitting, lying, standing idol - seemingly either waiting for something to happen, or depressed in the acceptance that life is such a burden.
If you are
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