VOA标准英语2011--Kenyan Artwork Growing in International Popularity

Kenyan Artwork Growing in International Popularity

Long overlooked on the international arts scene, Kenya is finally gaining prestige on the world stage. Some artists can now make their living entirely¹ from artwork and collectors are coming from around the world to buy it.

Works by Kenyan artists are exhibited around the globe. World-class galleries cater² to foreigners and other Kenyans. And the collectors are paying attention.

Born in Kenya, Amyn Abdula now lives in Vancouver. He has been collecting African art for more than 25 years and has more than 150 pieces. The majority are from Kenya.

"The more I saw, the more it appealed to me," said Abdula. "And I think it was actually, because I had left Africa, and that Africa was still in my heart. And when I went to North America, or Europe, or wherever, and whenever I saw some African stuff, it sort of appealed to me."

Collectors anticipate that Kenyan art will soon become as popular as art from west and South Africa.

Although estimates vary, Kenyan artwork is today selling for an average of 10 times the price it commanded 12 years ago. And figures are expected to go even higher.

Carol Lees owns the One Off contemporary art gallery in Nairobi. She knows first-hand how art collectors are starting to appreciate the value in Kenyan artwork.

"We certainly have some great fine art that has its own very strong individual voice, and is as good as anything you'd buy anywhere in the world," said Lees. "And I think you will see the prices go up quite incredibly in the next eight years. I've heard a couple of collectors say that the time for East African art is just coming and we need to prepare ourselves."

As for the artists, some are becoming household names in the art world.

Peterson Kamwathi is one of Kenya's most well-known contemporary, or so-called second-generation artists. One painting can now fetch more than $10,000.

"I used to have a part-time job," said Kamwathi. " I kind of had to step down. So, I've been living fully³ off art. So, can I make a living off art? I'm still here. So yeah, maybe, yes."

Like their counterparts around the world, Kenyan artists are telling a story of their culture, political struggles, family life, or just social commentary.

Richard Kimathi is another popular second-generation artist who depicts⁴ Kenyan struggles and triumphs through his art.

"I think everything counts," noted⁵ Kimathi. "From the people to the politics to the social life. It's sort of a combination of all those things. And then with my own sort of creation. You know, my ideas, I fuse with whatever surrounds me."

And like Kamwathi, Kimathi's name recognition allows him to make his living solely⁶ from selling his artwork.

Kenya's burgeoning⁷ art industry is attracting collectors from around the world who are interested in its long-term investment opportunities.

But others, like Abdula, have a different reason for collecting Kenyan art.

"Africa. I was born here. It all goes back to my soul. It talks to me. I understand it," said Abdula.

And in Kenya, this voice seems to be talking more and more.

1 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

2 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 depicts   

描绘，描画( depict的第三人称单数 )； 描述

参考例句：

• The book vividly depicts French society of the 1930s. 这本书生动地描绘了20 世纪30 年代的法国社会。
• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively. 他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

7 burgeoning   

adj.迅速成长的，迅速发展的v.发芽，抽枝( burgeon的现在分词 )；迅速发展；发（芽），抽（枝）

参考例句：

• Our company's business is burgeoning now. 我们公司的业务现在发展很迅速。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These efforts were insufficient to contain the burgeoning crisis. 这些努力不足以抑制迅速扩散的危机。 来自辞典例句