CRISTA UWASE

PRESERVING RWANDAN PROVERBS THROUGH COLLAGE

By Nathan Kiwere

In the emerging world of Rwandan contemporary art, where innovation meets tradition, self-taught artist Crista Uwase stands as a beacon, weaving cultural heritage into collages that echo the soul of Rwanda. Through her mastery, she not only creates visually stunning pieces but also becomes a custodian of Rwandan proverbs, encapsulating their wisdom within each crafted artwork. In a symphony of colours, textures, and ancestral wisdom, Uwase’s collages not only showcase her artistic sensibilities but also serve as a timeless tribute to the richness of her homeland’s cultural fabric.

During her childhood, she gravitated towards drawing unlike other subjects in school, sparked by her father’s thoughtful gifts of coloured pencils, paper, and puzzles. Her affinity for colours was apparent from the start. Over time, she honed her skills, cementing her resolve to pursue art by the time she entered high school. Supported wholeheartedly by her parents, she vividly remembers her father urging her to seek out an art school, yet the options were limited; the only available choice was a high school-level art program, which she had already surpassed academically. Undeterred, she sought mentorship from a community of professional artists. However, the predominantly male environment initially daunted her.

Despite the intimidation, she persisted in visiting the space, even as she pursued higher education at the university level. Graduating, she solidified her conviction that her future lay in art. She admired the work of American Painter Romare Bearden, drawing inspiration from his artistry, though she held reservations about his use of distortion.

After delving into various art forms, she found her calling in collage, marking it as her signature medium. Her mother’s encouragement to explore paper across diverse artistic expressions, including fashion design, highlighted its flexibility. This medium granted her the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, and easily correct them. However, her path shifted dramatically during her university years.

Initially immersed in the sciences during Senior 6, studying biochemistry, physics, and mathematics, she felt her imaginative spirit confined within the scientific realm. The allure of exploring the boundless infinity of the universe through study and visual expression grew irresistible. Despite her father, an engineer, shepherding her scientific endeavors, he supported her decision to transition from sciences to visual art, specifically graphic arts.

Her journey through collage art has been marked by an evolution in style and technique. Art has transformed into her lens and gateway to understanding the world. This transformation might not have occurred if she had pursued a medical profession, tethered to a room caring for patients. She settled in the comfot of collage and the rest is now history.

Collage art is a creative technique that involves assembling different elements like photographs, magazine clippings, paper, fabric, text, and other found objects to create a new and unique composition. Artists arrange these diverse materials on a surface, such as canvas or paper, to form a cohesive and often visually striking artwork. The beauty of collage lies in its ability to combine disparate elements to convey new meanings, narratives, or aesthetic expressions. It can be abstract, surreal, or representational, depending on the artist’s vision and intent. Collage allows for a blend of textures, colors, and ideas that might not be achievable through traditional drawing or painting alone. Artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were pioneers in the development of collage during the early 20th century, expanding its possibilities as a medium for artistic expression.

Uwase emphasizes that her identity as an artist stems from her humanity, as art has served as a conduit for her to both acquire knowledge and effortlessly connect with humanity. This integral aspect has contributed significantly to her personal evolution. Her journey is characterized by an unwavering dedication to learning through practical experience and seizing every available opportunity. Reflecting on pivotal moments, she recalls how certain encounters have fundamentally altered her perspective on art and the world. “One vivid memory was attending a drawing course in Austria,” she fondly reminisces. “As a self-taught artist, this was an entirely novel experience. It compelled me to reevaluate my preconceptions, particularly those influenced by cultural and religious norms. Confronting nude figures challenged my ingrained beliefs; it revealed my latent biases. This experience was transformative, reshaping my perception of barriers inhibiting my artistic growth.”

Uwase maintains a deep connection to her Rwandan heritage, though it may not always manifest directly in her artistic process. Nonetheless, she acknowledges its profound influence on her art’s core. At times, this awareness of her cultural roots fades amidst the creative process. Yet, certain aspects remain steadfast: notably, language, a vital tool for her verbal expressions within her artwork titles and artistic statements. Among these elements are traditional attire, indigenous hairstyles, ornaments, and geometric patterns, which she endeavors to infuse into her art. For her, it’s about reclaiming and integrating these fragments of the past into a future narrative, establishing a stronger artistic foundation. Uwase reflects, “While these elements might not be overtly visible in the artwork, they underpin its essence, particularly those portraying Rwandan women adorned in ceremonial garb…”

Uwase questions the nuanced understanding of her style’s specific context, acknowledging the challenging nature of terms like “traditional” and “contemporary” within an African framework. She proposes a different perspective: considering “traditional” as the foundation and “contemporary” as its evolution. For instance, materials like grass and twigs represent tradition, while paper, due to its industrial processing, embodies a contemporary element. This, to her, signifies a continuum—a harmonious blend rather than a dichotomy.

Regarding conceptualization, she emphasizes achieving balance by selectively incorporating traditional elements into the contemporary sphere. These could encompass cultural facets such as proverbs, language, attire, and indigenous wisdom. The fusion of these components, she believes, fosters equilibrium rather than segregating art into strict traditional or contemporary classifications.

I have made works using magazine papers produced from the West and quite obviously these papers have images of white people. Some people that have seen these elements in my work have quized me why I would do that. The reason is that apart from the fact that there is acute lack of quality paper from locally published magazines that I could use, I seek to bring together two cultures in order to spark a conversation.

In her May 2023 solo exhibition, she delved into geometric patterns, transitioning from a 2D realm to the world of 3D through paper sculptures. Utilizing the ancient Japanese art of origami, she skillfully shaped these sculptures into diverse and captivating forms. “My art has always been a challenge to the entrenched conservatism within our culture,” she remarks. “I constantly confront queries about why I diverge from the norm. Naturally, I question myself too, pondering if my creations will resonate with a wider audience, especially as I venture from small-scale sculptures to grander works.” Her aspiration is to cultivate a fresh perspective in her art, one where continuity is celebrated as a positive force rather than merely a disruptor of the established.

Uwase hints that she hasn’t fully immersed herself in her art yet, considering this phase as the beginning of her journey. She feels like she is primarily working for others, leaving limited room to explore her own identity. Her current aspiration is to reconnect with herself, aiming to authentically express her thoughts and beliefs after fulfilling the demands of her audience.

Recent pieces of her work already incorporate elements of activism, addressing critical issues such as gender-based violence, conflicts, and broader human rights concerns. Additionally, she dedicates effort to preserving culture, particularly by reshaping Rwandan proverbs related to women, often laden with negative connotations, into a positive narrative.

Given the scarcity of art education in Rwanda, Uwase is motivated to exert herself to maintain a vibrant presence of contemporary art in the public eye. Her commitment reflects through her participation in various art exhibitions both in Rwanda and internationally.