John Edward Odoch-Ameny

(also known as Odochameny)

born 1948 in Lira, Uganda

lives and works since 1989 as a sculptor in Malaba, Uganda

best known for his individual expressive style and tactile handling of the stone, wood and iron used to create his sculptures

1968 - 1973 Art study at the Makerere University of Kampala, Uganda

1974 - 1983 Director of the Department of Fine Arts at Obote College in Lira, Uganda

1984 - 1985 Assistent at the Makerere Art School, faculty „sculpture“, Makarere University, Uganda

Production manager in the gallery African Heritage, Nairobi, Kenya

1988 - 1989 Scholarship in Oakland, California, USA

Artist Profil | Exhibitions | Publications | Museums - Collection | Kunstwerk des Monats

Artist Profil

Barely a year after John Odoch-Ameny began studying art at Makarere University in 1970, Idi Amin came to power in a coup. Uganda’s subsequent history is marked by civil war and the economic ruination of a once rich country. John Odoch-Ameny escaped the worsening situation by moving to Kenya in the mid-1970s, lived in California for a while and returned to Uganda only some 20 years later. His early sculptural work uses soft wood, creating figures with convoluted bodies whose limbs seem reminiscent of insects. Their expressiveness is equally evident in his stone sculptures. Since the late 1980s, John Odoch-Ameny has worked mainly in metal. His bizarre assemblages of pistons, chains, telephone receivers, bells and typewriter parts address topics related to technology and everyday life in East Africa.

Exhibitions (Selection, if known)

2011 - Kuona Trust, Nairobi, Kenia

2010 - Safaricom-Gallery, Nairobi, Kenia

2009 - „Murumbi Peace Memorial“, Nairobi City Park, Nairobi, Kenia

- „Ameny – Nnaggenda – Expedilo – Ong’esa – Mwebe – Kibbula“, National Museum of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenia

2000 - Museo Las Americas, Gruppenausstellung mit Edoga (Nigeria), Romuald Hazoumé (Benin), Eugenio Valdes Figuera, Santa Fé, Denver, USA, 27. 9. 2000

- "Kentaro and Friends. 14 internationale Künstler", Gallery Kentaro, Studen, Schweiz

1997 - Galerie 37, Museum für Völkerkunde, Frankfurt/Main

1996 - „Kunst aus Ostafrika“, Kunst Transit, Berlin, Deutschland, 2. 11. – 8. 12. 1996

1991 - „Wegzeichen. Neue Kunst aus Afrika“, Museum für Völkerkunde, Frankfurt/M., Deutschland

1985 - 1988 - Einzel- und Gruppenausstellungen in African Heritage Pan African Gallery und Gallery Watatu in Nairobi, Kenia

1978 - Einzelausstellung in der African Heritage Pan African Gallery, Nairobi, Kenia

Publications (Selection)

- Agthe, Johanna, Wegzeichen – Signs. Kunst aus Ostafrika 1974 – 89 – Art from East Africa 1097 – 89, Museum für Völkerkunde, Frankfurt/Main 1990

- Kunstforum International, Bd. 122., Afrika – Iwalewa, Ruppichteroth 1993

Museums - Collection

- Museum der Weltkulturen, Frankfurt/Main

- Giovanni Springmeier, Berlin

- USA, Australien, Europa, Asien

- Murumbi Art Gallery – Murumbi Memorial Trust, Nairobi, Kenia (Unterstützer von Odoch-Ameny seit 1976)