Frank Yustard Ngimbwa (KADINALI)

Name: Frank Yustard Ngimbwa (KADINALI)

Profession: Visual Artist

Born: 5 May

From tingatinga artists to more contemporary painters, sculptors, photographers and filmmakers, Tanzania is not lacking in artistic skill and variety. While some Tanzanian artists have managed to establish themselves, many more hustle on a daily basis to be recognized for their unique talent. Dar Life caught up with the newly emerging artist KADINALI, who shared with us a bit about his history, what inspires him, and how he envisions the future of art in Tanzania.

DL - What inspired you to start painting?

Kadinali: I love painting because art is in my blood.

DL - How long have you been an artist?

Kadinali: I have been an artist for more than ten years now.

DL - When did you start?

Kadinali: I started painting in 2000 at the Tanzania Russian Cultural Center, under teacher Ernest Mtaya in the Dar Art Youth Group.

DL - What is a highlight of your artistic career?

Kadinali: Definitely participating in in “Fashion Design” in 2000.

DL - What is your genre of painting and what mediums do you like to use? What technique do you use?

Kadinali: I use style wash, oil and sketches. I paint abstract and realistic paintings.

DL - Tell us about your first exhibition?

Kadinali: It was at the Embassy of Finland.

DL - Where do you do your work?

Kadinali: I work from my home.

DL - Do you work from life, or from photographs or from imagination?

Kadinali: I work from my memories. And I try to recapture a moment, a feeling that I felt then. With my latest work where I have combined photography I obviously used photographs and painting to create the final image.

DL - Where do you feel art is going?

Kadinali: In Tanzania art is going very slow. There are many beautiful artworks, but the market is unfortunately small.

DL - What is the role of the artist in society?

Kadinali: I think my work is there to show and highlight the ordinary and to make the ordinary special by presenting it in a new perspective in a way. It’s about appreciating the simple things in life.

DL - Do you prefer a perfect smooth technique or a more energetic expressive technique and why?

Kadinali: I like energetic techniques, as using them encourages me to work hard so that when someone looks at my painting, they realize how much goes into painting. I want them to see that it is not easy to be a painter.

DL - What do you think makes your work standout?

Kadinali: I paint with confidence.