KIKADDE STUDIO | KAMPALA

SOLO EXHIBITION | SSEBAKIJJE ROGERS

Questions of Solitude:Man and Rest

A visual inquiry into human existence, labor, solitude, and the essential act of retreat.

In an era dominated by perpetual output and relentless hustle, Ugandan visual artist Ssebakijje Rogers poses an urgent question: when did rest become something we have to earn? His solo exhibition, Questions of Solitude: Man and Rest, opened at Kikadde Studio on August 21, 2026, to a warm reception from Kampala’s art community and enthusiasts. It presents a profound visual inquiry into the quiet spaces of human existence, labor, and the essential act of retreat. Running through September 21, 2026, the exhibition, presented in collaboration with Vodo Arts Society & Lab, invites viewers to step out of the daily rat race and interrogate their own relationship with stillness.

Right from the entrance, the exhibition sets the tone with a doormat bearing the word “Weyambule”, which directly translates to “undress yourself.” It asks visitors to step in and, in a sense, leave something behind: the noise, pressures and weight of the outside world.

Curated by Wamala Kyeyune, the showcase builds upon a pivotal moment in Ssebakijje’s life when a personal tragedy stilled his body, awakening a deep mental quest into why we retreat into ourselves. The work unfolds across both paintings and installations, tracing a three-part exploration of solitude, solace, and what ultimately emerges. Assertive human figures emerge against dark backgrounds, carrying the weight of raw experience. Across their skin, text in Luganda and English is scrawled like bold scar tissue, directly responding to modern media captioning, while everyday found objects, including crutches, a toilet seat, tequila bottles, and patched clothing, bear the literal residue of a life broken and remade.

While centered on Ssebakijje’s singular vision, the exhibition also highlights artistic dialogue, featuring collaborative works with fellow visual artists Sayyid Bin Musa, Henry Kiyingi, and Michael Ddungu, as well as joint pieces with design studio Citone & Clay.

At the emotional core of Man and Rest is a sharp critique of societal productivity traps. Anchored by the Luganda maxim “Okwebaka si kuwumula” (“sleeping is not the same thing as resting”), Ssebakijje also challenges the cultural tendency to equate rest with laziness. He highlights how a body can be completely still while the mind continues to race, challenging visitors to ask whether their daily routine offers genuine restoration or merely physical exhaustion.

Adding to the experience is the spatial intervention itself: Kikadde Studio has been transformed into an art gallery with a distinct character for the exhibition. Inside, a striking stillness creates a juxtaposition with the echoes and constant movement of the city just outside, bringing the exhibition’s themes into the space itself.

For more information or to request the exhibition portfolio, contact:
info@vodoartsociety.com