Robino Ntila (Tanzanian, born 1953)
Mother and Children, Tanzania, 1980
Signed ‘signature 1980’ and year (lower left)
Edition 5/50
intaglio print on handmade paper
30.5 x 26cm
Ksh 29,000-35,000
US$ 330-400
Sold Ksh 61,048
Provenance: direct from the artist
At the age of 23, Robino became an artist with the Nyumba ya Sanaa in Dar es Salaam, an artist’s association founded in Tanzania by Sister Jean Pruitt from the US. Later on, he acted as chief coordinator with them for 30 years.
Specializing in etching, Robino taught several workshops including a 2002 etching workshop at Kuona Trust’s Museum art studios in Nairobi influencing artists such as Peterson Kamwathi and Simon Muriithi. He travelled regularly to Austria to study printmaking accompanied by fellow Tanzanian artists Francis Imanjama, George Lilanga and his nephew, Hendrick Lilanga.
Ntila prints often depict traditional life in East Africa; he has exhibited in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Switzerland. Ntila was chosen to represent Tanzania at the !Kauru African Contemporary Art project in South Africa in 2014.
The plate for this print was destroyed during the closure of Nyumbaa ya Sanaa so this is the only remaining print.