Africa-Press – Kenya. For the better part of the week, sculptures of prominent leaders have made rounds on social media with mixed reactions from sections of Kenyans.
The sculptures portrayed President Uhuru Kenyatta, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, ODM leader Raila Odinga as well as regional leaders such as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his Rwandan Counterpart Yoweri Museveni.
Kenyans.co.ke,
caught up with the artist behind the sculptures. Samuel Otieno Owino opened up on what inspired him to pursue the artwork.
The father of seven from Kisumu County stated that he had been making the sculptures for three years.
“I dropped out of school in class eight but I have always been good at drawing. So, later on, I upgraded from drawing to modeling with clay,” he stated.
Despite being disabled in his right hand, Owino notes that he does not rely on handouts as he sources for materials as far as Kakamega to make his artwork.
He disclosed that it takes one week to complete a sculpture, that is if the soil to be used has already been treated
“The soil, you have to let it ferment while covered with nylon for two weeks then the rest of the process takes a shorter time,” he stated.
Thereafter, he starts to model and leaves it to dry for three days and that’s when he colours them.
Owino states that he has made statues of animals as well as of prominent individuals adding that he was strategic in making the public figures.
“I was targetting the opening of the Kisumu Port because there are regional leaders who are going to attend its launch as it involves Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
“I was hoping to get their attention with the sculptures,” he noted.
On the pricing of his artwork, Owino states that it depends on the buyer suggesting that a sculpture could set back someone Ksh500,000.
