The Village Well Conversations By Muramuzi John Bosco

Ugandan artist Muramuzi John Bosco presents The Village Well Conversations, a body of recent work reflecting on village life and traditions. The work focuses on the significance of the village well as a symbol of life, rebirth, mystery, spirituality, and a thriving community.

In most villages in the remote areas of Uganda, a well is a community's heart, a social space, a collection center, an open space for conversations, and a space for all ages. It's also a source of life for animals and people.

Inspired by childhood memories, John Bosco uses acrylic on canvas to explore narratives of "Villagism. " He merges village and urban scenes to create vibrant compositions of common practices in his village, including people fetching water from the well and carrying gallons of water. He also highlights his childhood roles and experiences in the Sheema district, including fetching water for domestic use and sometimes grazing cattle.

About the Artist

Muramuzi John Bosco (b. 1991) is a Ugandan artist based in Kampala, Uganda.

Born and raised in Sheema, a rural area in Western Uganda, he moved to Kampala in 2004 to pursue his education and art career. He holds a Diploma in Industrial Art and Design from the YMCA Comprehensive Institute in Kampala. 

His work explores Uganda's rural and urban landscapes and a mixture of African cultures and narratives in a very organic way. Working primarily with acrylic paint on canvas, his work is characterized by intricacy, broad subject, and unique technique. He interweaves nature and rural-urban narratives to create stories inspired by his village’s flora and fauna and the busy city life, including markets, nature, animals, and people of the busy Ugandan capital.

Combining numerous art styles, such as impressionism, abstract, and symbolism, he utilizes vivid and sometimes monochromatic palettes to create stunning, explosive effects, patterns, and imaginary compositions that glorify Ugandan life.