Afriart Gallery presents The Quiet Weight of Thoughts by Ugandan artists Daniel Atenyi and Richard Atugonza. The exhibition is based on aspects such as the following: Feeling that a weight has been lifted off one’s shoulders for overcoming a burden, butterflies in the stomach for being in love or a heavy heart for expressing deep sadness or sorrow. This exhibition speaks to language as a testament to how emotions are not only expressed through bodily sensations but at times literally become a corporeal experience.
At the heart of this exhibition lies Richard Atugonza’s and Daniel Atenyi’s profound expressions of mental predicaments through bodily shapes. In the way language is used to describe emotions as physical sensations, the two artists narrate through visual representations of bodies – at times their own, other times abstracted, realistic, and even incomplete bodies. The Quiet Weight of Thoughts delves into the duality between self-image and external perception, often revealing discrepancies that can illuminate the multifaceted, fluid and elusive nature of identity. Through distinct methodologies, Atugonza and Atenyi both explore the interplay between natural materials and human expression.
Atugonza’s use of charcoal reflects a deep connection to his environment. Through the transformation process he developed, the initially brittle material gains durability and strength, encapsulating a duality where fragility meets endurance. In contrast, Atenyi’s focus on paper and his use of powdered charcoal alongside natural pigments like coffee highlights a grounded simplicity that allows for an exploration of complex themes within the human form. His visual language readjusts reality through the abstraction of the human form.
The Quiet Weight of Thoughts challenges viewers to consider our own relationship with fragility and strength. We’re invited you to give thought to how our self-image aligns or diverges from how we believe others perceive us, to reflect on the intricate dynamics at play in shaping both our personal identity and collective understanding. In the process, the we perhaps become aware of how these reflections resonate within our physical body. The exhibition will be on view until the 17th of May 2025 at Afriart Gallery in Kampala, Uganda.
About the artists
Daniel Atenyi (b. 1997) is a self-taught Ugandan artist based in Kampala. Initially focused on commissioned works, he has shifted towards a more personal and expressive practice, allowing him to delve into complex themes of self-perception through his art. Atenyi’s work centers on abstract figuration, investigating the intricate dynamics of how individuals perceive others.
Atenyi held his first exhibition at Latitude 0, Kampala in 2024. He exhibited in the group show Form and Fantasy at Afriart Gallery and showed at Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2024. He completed a residency with Silhouette Project in 2023 and with Vivid Synergies! in 2024, both in Uganda.
Richard Atugonza was born in Fort Portal, Uganda in 1994 and graduated from Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art in 2019. Atugonza held his debut solo exhibition Human Nature at Afriart Gallery in 2024. He has also exhibited at the following group exhibitions: Africa Supernova at Kunsthal KAdE in the Netherlands; Eastern Voices at Addis Fine Art in London; as well as at the FNB Art Joburg, among others.
