Collecting is my art

Costello Ring Lual is taking African art collection to a higher level and invited GEORGE ORIDO, who took a peek into the mind of an art collector.

The scented flora and subtle fauna emit an artsy feel that welcomes you to the world of Costello Garang Ring Lual, the chairman of New Sudan Foundation.

 This public figure is probably the most adept and wildly addicted art collector since the days of former Vice-President, the late Joseph Murumbi.

From the large Oak doors and the walls adorned with inviting paintings of the Big Five, everything in this distinctly African household is art. A set of chairs made from bamboo and woven papyrus sit, side by side, with the oriental décor giving a truly exotic feel.

“I bought this from Manila, the Philippines,” explains Dr Costello.

The handmade ceramic mugs have white and blue flowers. He got them from one of the celebrated young artistes in the outskirts of Nairobi. The water tumblers are emblazoned with glass art of a zebra grazing in the open Savannah grassland.

 Everything in the house has an artistic impression and his collections are from far and wide – Kenya, South Sudan, Indonesia and Syria, among other sources. There is another portrait of his youngest son Lual, eight, acrylic on canvas  perhaps, a manifest of a father’s love for his promising son. 

MY HEART DOES NOT REST

So why is the diplomat obssessed with art?

“When I see a piece of art and I like it my heart does not rest until I have it,” says Costello.

A larger than life painting of a Dinka girl, ready for marriage sits above the fireplace in brown and red earth colours.

She seems to be asking, “What are we having for dinner tonight?”

Toward the kitchen door there is the painting Mheshimiwa, one of the four paintings he bought from Congolese artist Bezalel Ngabo.

“I really like this painting for it depicts the typical politician who ends up filling their coffers from public after false promises,” explains Costello, a founder member of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army/Movement.

The portrait of South Sudan’s founding Father Dr John Garang De Mabior in full combat gear, is imposing. Painted by one of his favourite artistes Maina Gikonyo the portrait gives compelling testimony to the long years of struggle among the people of South Sudan, who gained independence last year.

Yet some of the best collections are the coffee tables and stands made from tree stumps that not only enhance the theme of nature and abundance, but are also  a clear sign of Costello’s passion for environmental conservation.

“When I saw the pieces I said, ‘wait a minute… instead of using the stumps as fuel she has recycled them back to nature, saving other trees that might have been cut to provide raw material for the sculpture.”

Gikonyo’s depiction of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement  signed in Nairobi between then SPLA/M President Garang’ and First Vice-President Ali Othman Taha in January 2005, is the centre of the collection.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Happy faces, full of hope for the future for the South Sudanese peoples look bright as freedom and self-determination seems nigh.

The Advisor to South Sudan President Salva Kiir, is also driven by the desire to promote African Artists in the lucrative European market,

“Whenever I get visitors to my house in Germany and here in Nairobi, they get talking and interested on the artists.”

This way, he has midwifed and linked serious inquiries that have resulted in good business for some of authors of his work – all pro bono.

He hopes that his country will modernise first and hopes more South Sudanese artists would join the likes of Samuel Bullen in exposing their works.

“We are happy to note that Valentino Achak Deng’s book, What is the What, is being turned into a world class movie,’ says Costello on a book that has captured the attention US President Barrack Obama, who recommended it for reading in US schools.