Unknown sculptor who is a ‘celeb’ abroad

By Augustine Oduor

The name Elkana Ong’esa may not ring a bell among Kenya’s celebrities, but last weekend he drew a large crowd that included the American Ambassador, to a soapstone quarry at Nyabioto, Kisii South District, where he is carving a monument that will transform the foyer of the American Embassy in Nairobi.

American Ambassador Michael Ranneberger admires a soapstone monument being made for the US Embassy in Nairobi. [PHOTOS: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

American Ambassador Michael Ranneberger and his diplomatic officials looked on in awe at the almost complete ten-tonne soapstone sculpture that he commissioned.

The brief for Ong’esa from Ranneberger was to carve a monument to represent the relationship between the US and Kenya, especially after post-election violence. The massive work of art in the form of two birds to symbolise peace, will soon welcome visitors to the US Embassy complex in Nairobi.

The artist is expected to hand over the sculpture in two weeks. It will be transported overland to the embassy.

Few among those present may have known why Ranneberger sought out the artist from Kisii, who has a workshop at Hurlingam, Nairobi, to do the important monument.

Ong’esa may be like a prophet unknown at home but famous abroad for his work in soapstone carvings.

Masterpieces

Ong’esa’s sculptures grace headquarters of international companies and organisations outside the country, where they are considered masterpieces.

Although hardly celebrated at home, the veteran soapstone sculptor has done many landmark works that have earned him the position of current President of the Pan African Association of Visual Artists that he will hold for the next four years.

Courtesy to the humble artist, Kenyan art has claimed its position in high places.

One of his giant sculptures adorns one of the entries into United Nations Building in New York. The front of the Unesco headquarters in Paris features another of his works while the Olympics Museum at Coca-Cola’s headquarters in Atlanta displays his soapstone sculpture depicting Maasai warriors dancing around a Coke bottle. A smaller company logo made by the artists stands at Caltex headquarters in Houston, Texas.

At Unesco headquarters, many people marvel at the huge seven-tonne Kisii soapstone mascot. It depicts a bird resting on a granite base with its head turned to the shoulder. It stands 1.6m high.

"I was commissioned by the Government in 1978 to make the statue to commemorate that year’s Unesco conference in Nairobi, the first then outside Europe," he said. It was later shipped to Paris after the conference.

The completed sculpture was handed over to Unesco officials in Nairobi on October 10, 1978, by then new President Daniel arap Moi, said Mr Ong’esa.

The production of the piece, said to be the biggest Kisii-stone carving in the world, began in 1976 and took him two years to complete.

Ong’esa’s next landmark assignment came in 1984, when Caltex Oil Company engaged him to create a carving to illustrate the theme "In search of water".

Elkana Ong’esa who has made oustanding soapstone monuments for international organisations.

The sculpture at the Caltex Dallas headquarters stands two metres high and weighs two tonnes. The art features an elephant and a rhino in opposite sides and a rabbit on top of them. A man stands on the side with a calabash waiting to drink the water.

Ong’esa once again came up with a memorable work of art in 2006. The sculpture called ‘Her Mother’ is made of bronze and stands at ‘The World Sculpture Park ’ in Chang Chun city in northeastern China. The art, he says, depicts a mother hugging her child.

"There is, however, a big difference in size between the two. The concept here was that the mother will always stand tall and bigger than anybody else. You may acquire other societal positions but the mother will still be bigger than you," he said.

What he calls one of his most outstanding pieces is a sculpture that greets visitors at the entrance of Olympic Museums in Atlanta, Georgia. The carving made in 1996 depicts Maasai warriors dancing around a Coke bottle, an act supposed to show happiness and peace.

Ong’esa also has three of his works in Uganda, where he studied fine art at the Margaret Trowel’s School of Fine Art. They include one at Makerere Art Gallery, another at the Bank of Uganda, and the third at the Uganda Museum.

Back home, one of the major pieces is of the late Joseph Murumbi, Kenya ’s second vice-president, who requested him to monument a work for his grave before he died.

Post-poll violence

After the widespread unrest of post-poll violence in early 2008, Ong’esa crafted many sculptures, adding nuance to people’s understanding of how art is still an invaluable healing resource, especially during political turmoil and bloodshed that erupted in many parts of the country, leading to death and destruction.

Born in 1944 in South Mugirango District, Ong’esa has carved soapstone for most of his life.

Ong’esa challenges the Government to encourage students to explore their art talents.

Asked about his earnings, the artists declined to give details, only saying he earns enough to make a living.