This exhibition is collaboration between Illume Creative Studio and Bourbon Coffee and is entitled H O M E. The pieces in this revolving exhibition are displayed at Bourbon’s Kigali International Airport locations and feature various artists' interpretation of home.

Through mixed media, illustration, textiles, traditional paintings, digital art, and photography, H O M E features established and emerging artists' exploration of home. The featured artists and companies in this phase of the exhibition (Dec 2020 to March 2021) are photographers Gael Ruboneka Vande weghe, Philippe Nyirimihigo, and Denyse Uwera, and fashion and accessory houses Haute Baso, Inzuki, and House of Tayo.

The four sections of the exhibition are ‘Crop to Cup,’ ‘Textiles,’ ‘Artistic Portraits,’ and ‘This is Rwanda.’

CROP TO CUP

ARTISTS: DENYSE UWERA + GAEL RUBONEKA VANDE WEGHE

This section of the exhibition is located in Bourbon's Arrivals location and is a tribute to the process that goes into producing Rwanda's delicious and memorable coffee. The wall features photography from Denyse Uwera -- a photographer and designer who has just published a coffee-table book about women coffee farmers and processors called 'Strong Women Behind a Strong Coffee' (2021) -- and Gaël Ruboneka Vande weghe, one of Rwanda's foremost photographers and author of several books including 'This is Rwanda: an Aerial Photography Journey’ (2018). Both books are published by Illume Editions.

Textiles

ARTISTS: HAUTE BASO, INZUKI, HOUSE OF TAYO

This section is located in Bourbon's Arrivals location and features home accessories that incorporate traditional textiles and weaving techniques. The wall features Woven Raffia Mirrors by Haute Baso, Traditionally Handwoven Mirrors by Inzuki, and Batik Wall Pieces by House of Tayo.

this is rwanda

ARTISTS: GAËL RUBONEKA VANDE WEGHE AND PHILIPPE NYIRIMIHIGO

This section is located in Bourbon's Departures location. The wall features eight aerial images of Rwanda captured by photographers Gaël Ruboneka Vande weghe and Philippe Nyirimihigo of Illume Creative Studio. The images are included in the 288-page coffee-table book entitled 'This is Rwanda: an Aerial Photography Journey' (2018) published by Illume Editions.

ARTISTIC PORTRAITS

ARTISTS: GAËL RUBONEKA VANDE WEGHE AND DENYSE UWER

This section is located in Bourbon's Departures location and features artistic portraits that capture a few aspects of Rwanda's growing 'Made-In-Rwanda' brand: the growing fashion industry, the thriving coffee ecosystem, and the beloved and vibrant traditional music and dance of Rwanda.

ARTISTS

Previous editions of h o m e

The first edition of the H O M E Exhibition featured digital artist Manzi Jackson. Manzi Jackson is a contemporary visual Artist based in Kigali, Rwanda. He dabbles in surrealist and magical concepts, displayed in his ability to portray the full magical breadth of his subjects with breathtaking, colorful technique. His use of flower draped muses in astronaut suits are characterized in a series of artworks expressing a vibrant spirit in otherworldly atmosphere.

The two pieces featured in the exhibition were from Manzi’s ‘Take Me to Space’ series in which Manzi explored the notion that his definition of home is not limited to earth. In this portrait series, muses are dressed in astronaut suits taken over by organic wonders. For prints and original pieces, contact Manzi here.

The first edition of the H O M E Exhibition also included work by Philippe Nyirimihigo. Philippe is a photographer and visual artist based in Rwanda and his featured pieces mixed photography of Rwandan modern fashion and traditional Rwandan design elements in a modern graphic collage setting.