Art the feast in my soul

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Zanzibar, Tanzania; a professor of spontaneous realism art emerged known as YahyaMzeeMwinyikombo. Popularly known as Prof. Y.Kola, an artist gem has drawn his own path into fame with not more than his secondary school art class lessons. He chose to forego continuation in formal higher education after his A-level qualification, to pursue his artistic dream.

A principal theme in Y-Kola’s work is the nature of time and is also concerned about his cultural footprint of which he expresses both elements through his art. He finds the challenging medium of texture to perfect his interpretation of his inspiration, the master of Spontaneous Realism, VOKA from Austria who creates art of less color density.

Y- Kola is the first artist to participate in an Islamic Solo Art Exhibition /calligraphy at Emerson on Hurumzi, Zanzibar in 2018. He has also become a regular feature at the East African Art Biennale exhibitions, and numerous exhibitions at art exhibitions in Zanzibar. He has found home at Park Hyatt  HotelZanzibar as a platform to foster and introduce him to the rest of the world.

He looks forward to the direction and journey of growth to being a seasoned artist to elaborately place Zanzibar on the world map of artistic collection, and be an inspiration to all the budding artists he is training to maturity. He received so many invitation inside and out side like Jordan,Polland, USA, France and east African

Name: Yahya Mzee Mwinyikombo

Prof:  Y.Kola

Citizen:  Zanzibar (Tanzania)

Date of birth: 11/10/1986

Marial status: MARRIED

Education background

1993-2000 Primary school at Mwanakwerekwe B -Zanzibar

2001-2005 Secondary School at Mwanakwerekwe A

2007-2008 Development of art at Zayaa Gallery {Zanzibar young artist association}

2008-2010 A-level education at Lumumba S. School –Zanzibar (form 6)

Interview

2014 The Citizen Magazine. Tuesday 24 June 2014, Page 17 and 21

2014 The Dar Life Magazine.July 2014, book no.86.Page 54 to 56

2015 NIPASHE (mwangawajamii)/Friday February 20- 2015.Page 20

2015 Interview through AFRICA 24 MEDIA from (Nairobi-Kenya). Under the producer

WaceraNgunjiri.

 2015 East Africa Art Biennale 7^th Edition.  In Nafasi Art Space. Bookno.ISBN 9987-785-00-1

2018 PREPARATION back up drop for BUSARA (MUSIC FESTIVAL).

EXHIBITION
2011 Suraka Charity exhibition at Emerson Spice hotel , for cancer treatment.my colleague
2014 Display Paintings Exhibition at Quality Center Mall in Dar-e-salaam
2014 Zanzibar grand Palace Hotel exhibition and paint live.now changing to GOLDEN TULIP
2015 University of Dar-e-salaam (UDSM) Art Paintings Exhibition
2017 Islamic solo art exhibition /calligraphy at Emerson on Hurumzi
2018 prepare stage back up drop to BUSARA FESTIVAL
2018 Banana Contemporary Art Gallery, solo exhibition at Nairobi Kenya
2018 photo international exhibitor on board at Poland under the professorAgnieszkaPiet Ruska
2019 Ammon Art symposium and exhibition (Aqaba-JORDAN)
2020 special invitation exhibition with USAID commission director and USA ambassador in Tanzania

WORKSHOP
2012 workshop about ARTIST NETWORK, under the people from America USA in Zanzibar
2013 Iranian work shop Muzammil Center Zanzibar-I was a qurator& director
2015 East Africa Art Biennale Exhibition at Nafasi .7thedition 8thedition,9th and 10th edition
2015 LAB CommunityFromCaribbean Trinidad& Tobago +Indonesia, workshop about Art creative & transformational leadership
2019 Nafasi art space, residency and workshop.
2020 solo exhibition at six degree south, Zanzibar.
2020 Hyatt Regency Hotelmanes Salaam

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

REFERENCE FOR YAHYA MZEE MWINYIKONDO

This note is to certify that I have known Yahya MzeeMwinyikombo (aka Kola) for over 5 years now as an upcoming and exceptional artist in Zanzibar. Through his work with the Arts Cooperative in the Old Fort and his collaboration with the festival, we have come to become close associates, friends even.

All this time, I have come to appreciate the vision that makes Kola such a valuable asset to the arts scene in Zanzibar. Apart from being a sensitive artist he is also keen to collaborate with others to convey serious messages of society through his art. We had evidence of that when we collaborated in the “Cervical Cancer Exhibition” that we partnered during the 2013 ZIFF.

He is an exceptional character who understands the artist’s role in society as well as being a professional art trainer. His knowledge of color and Zanzibari culture makes him a valuable reference to visiting artists. Kola is currently a

consultant in a new film production by a German firm where he is advising about traditional color schemes available in Zanzibar.

I cannot find enough words to describe the passion and skills that Kola proves with each exhibition as the just last exhibition at the Marumaru Hotel aptly evidenced.

I look forward to collaborating with Kola again and enjoying his ever-popular culture art-works in Zanzibar.

Sincerely

MARTIN MHANDO

CEO-ZIFF

ARTIST  STATEMENT

The colors I use is acrylic, I like to draw a larger canvas than a small one. As long as you stay away  you see my work better than ever.

      My style is called Spontaneous realism, VOKA from Austria & Tolga Ertem, from Istanbul all they have persuade me to move this style but our different me with them, they use little color rather than me. I feel happy to spend more color when I paint until to get a texture.

     About situation of art market in now are day, I look beyond Europe because my level is so high. Many visitors told me that my art is more profound rather than my life.

actually, I like to use frame size 158 X 100cm, 91 x 61 cm and  big size. I like to draw pictures of the World’s  most famous people like Sir.Mohd Aly, Fidel castro, Maya Angelous, different panorama,street ,animals and so on. I  like to be free when I paint.