TO SAY THAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has been rough for the creative art industry is an understatement. Among others, the creative art industry was one of the sources of income to many artists through selling their artworks at exhibitions, live painting events, visitors who visit art galleries, and et cetera. Lewis Manishimwe a local artist doing painting and mixed media style told The New Times that among the challenges he encountered is stalling his exhibition which he has been preparing for two years, Indiba arts space Kigali “I have been working on a collection of artworks in my studio which I wanted to exhibit on womens day in March 2020, I was shocked when I heard of the lockdown period, but I told myself that I could still do better and maybe I will have a chance following year but the situation did not improve, he says. The artist said that even though it took him some time to admit the situation, he was distracted by his exhibition as every time he thought of postponing, events and long gatherings were banned off all over again and he panicked. “I learnt a great lesson, I refused to get depressed and chose to create more beautiful art pieces. I am looking forward to resuming my art exhibition this month. It is also quite complicated to find an avenue to accept it, but we have to learn living with the pandemic, the artist added. This case is the same for Eduige Mutoniwase a student pursuing her studies in Creative Arts at the University of Rwanda, she says most of the challenges the pandemic brought include the banning of almost all artistic activities including exhibitions. She revealed that even though they are adapting to the situation by emerging in digital showrooms, they encountered several challenges. “We had an exhibition in March of women in creative arts industry but due to the situation, we were forced to move our event to virtual showrooms. Art is something that creates emotional feelings when one is facing it physically, so it was quite challenging as many were not aware of how virtual exhibitions work, our exhibition became less productive, and few attended, it was not quite interesting at all, she says. According to Bernard Birasa, a professional painter based in Kigali, even though the coronavirus outbreak has closed most of their sources of income, this also has been a good time for the artist especially those who have enough materials to create beautiful and meaningful art pieces which they hope will benefit for them when the pandemic eases. “Things have changed totally due to the pandemic especially in the art sector. Previously, would plan an exhibition invite local and foreign visitors, then make money out of it. We are living proof that we used to make a living through art but today few people are spending money for our artworks in this rough situation. We have suffered a lot,’’ he said. “For example, when there is a lockdown, I immediately took my brush and canvas made a beautiful artwork expressing how as a human being, there is nothing we can do in this situation and that God is our only savior, that his hands only will give us the cure of this virus, he added. Birasa also highlighted that for him and other courageous artists, the pandemic is the best moment to take advantage of the situation and make good use of the art pieces which will keep the history of this period so that after many years people would look at them and be reminded of the pandemic. However, the situation hasn’t been all bad, according to Remy Iradukunda, a live painter based at Envision Media Arts Collective. For him, the pandemic has made it clear that art is not a basic human need, adding that before the pandemic they would sell over 60% of the artworks in the gallery but now they have sold only around 15% in one year and a half. “I encountered many challenges as a live painting sector, we work just like musicians, comedians, and others who need to spread our message in big gatherings, and those gatherings were banned. As a live painter, the companies who would invite me to do live painting at their events and it has affected me profoundly, he said. “At Envision Rwanda we used to host live sessions but they are not fully allowed these days, but then we are learning to adapt to the situation by allowing a small number of people at a different sessions where they can join us, and it works out,’’ Iradukunda added.
