ZIKUSANZE OPENS: An Encounter with Present-Day African Realities
Zikusanze: If You Do, Zikusanze: If You Don't, the compelling exhibition that recently opened, is a testament to the deep collaboration between two distinct artistic voices: Wamala Kyeyune Joseph and Kikomeko Gerald Puto. This significant show, presented by Vodo and curated by Carol Kagezi, marks a pivotal moment in Kampala's art scene, bringing together years of individual artistic development that now intertwine in a cohesive and thought-provoking dialogue.
In May 2025, Vodo Arts Society hosted the first studio visit for Kampala-based visual artist Ddungu Michael in a quiet part of Ntinda. The visit offered an intimate experience of his workspace and artistic process, allowing guests to slow down and connect with the quiet intensity of his work.
As Ssebakijje prepares for his October solo exhibition, a recent studio visit with fellow artists uncovered unexpected truths about his work. What he long considered expressionist actually carries striking pop art qualities – a revelation that may send him back to the drawing board just months before his debut.
On Holy Thursday, April 17th, 2025, Vodo Art Lab and Society returned to the Uganda Cancer Institute – Mulago for a special Easter Art Day, held in collaboration with our long-time partners at the Uganda Child Cancer Foundation (UCCF). The event was a quiet but powerful gesture—focused not on numbers, but on impact.
Vini Mercy Drops Energetic New Video for “Source Up”
Ugandan rising star and Vodo artist Vini Mercy has released the vibrant music video for her single “Source Up,” a standout track from her 2024 EP Nile’s Jewel. The visual, directed by Abdu Ajak, delivers the song’s infectious energy through sleek, stylish scenes.
The video subtly incorporates elements from Vini’s Nile’s Jewel exhibition, as both projects share the same creative roots. In a clever moment, she also teases “Little Things,” another fan-favorite from the EP, sparking curiosity about whether it might get its own visual treatment next.
With “Source Up,” Vini continues to prove why she’s one of Uganda’s most exciting new talents.
Kabyesize Maximus’ wooden cutlery sculptures blend craft and nature, turning everyday items into living art.
Inspired by leaves, rivers, and plants, the flowing shapes celebrate the beauty of ordinary things. The wood changes over time, telling a story of growth and transformation.
These pieces invite us to rethink how we use what nature gives us, connecting function and the natural world.
Nile’s Jewel, an intersection of painting and music, both born from Mercy's profound
exploration of identity, heritage, and expression.
Vini Mercy's work is a celebration of her roots and a deep dive into the ideas that shape her
perception of life. Through her art, she brings to light the physical and cultural narratives of
Northern Uganda, particularly, the people who are often characterized by their distinctively
deep dark skin complexion.
Like a patient weaver, time has painstakingly and slowly spun its intricate web around the figure “Buluma Ochungo Mordecai”, the artist whom the exhibition, Buluma: Amakowola! The Return celebrates. In this exhibition, the ninety-year-old Buluma emerges like the proverbial cat with nine lives; he played his role as an artist, strayed into temporal oblivion, but returned after seventeen years (2004-2021) to show a body of works that has reincarnated him as an artist given a fresh chance to pursue his passion and to fulfil his dreams and destiny. His return is a testament to the enduring human spirit, and the new works on display are deeply entwined with the essence of an artist’s life force and source.
The Vodo Arts Society and Lab (Vodo) recently transformed the Mulago hospital Uganda Child Cancer Foundation’s (UCCF) recreation space into a vibrant studio, where young patients battling cancer poured their dreams and imaginations onto canvases. The event, part of Vodo’s philanthropic arts initiative, paired volunteers with children aged 3 to 16, alongside their nurses and caretakers, for a day of therapeutic creativity.
