Lot 44

Jak Katarikawe (Ugandan, 1938 – 2018)
The Dream, circa 1997
Signed ‘JAK KATARIKAWE’ (lower left)
Oil on canvas
64 x 79 cm
KES 300,000 – 400,000
(US$) 2,300 – 3,000
Provenance: Bought directly from the artist, 1997, Nairobi.

Jak Katarikawe grew up in rural southwest Uganda and is now one of East Africa’s best-known artists. As political oppression intensified in Uganda, Katarikawe relocated to Nairobi in 1981, where he became one of the artists who gained exposure through Ruth Schaffner’s Gallery Watatu.

Combining painting and storytelling, Katarikawe’s emotive portrayals of the dramas and dreams of village life have received international acclaim and been an inspiration to generations of young artists. Extensively collected, Katarikawe’s paintings have been exhibited in Africa, Europe and the USA. Between 2013 and 2017 Katarikawe’s paintings have been featured at the annual Bonhams Africa Now auction in London, in the travelling group show Mwili Akili na Roho, at The Royal Academy, London and Haus Der Kunst, Munich, and at NCAI, Nairobi.

This evocative work comes with a note directly from the artist describing the subject ‘portrays a woman grappling with insecurity after imagining her husband dreaming of her younger sister. A cow, symbol of wisdom and reassurance, appears to comfort her, reminding the viewer that not all dreams reflect reality.’