YONY WAI-TE

The Skys the Limit for Yony

By W Kan'gara

Today, Yony Wai-te creates with the same intensity as when she first disembarked the yacht that she sailed on from Guam to Japan in 1958. Raised in Guam (Pacific Island), Yony discovered that she had a passion for art at an early age. She recalls drawing horses when she was six or seven years old. Years later she boarded the small boat to Japan, a country that she had always admired for its art, philosophy and respect for nature. "I knew the spirit of Zen Buddhism and Mingei (folk craft)was unique, and that is what I was seeking", she says.

JAPAN
She refers to Japan especially Matsumoto, a city in the mountainous Central Japan, as her spiritual home. In Matsumoto, she apprenticed for two years and at the same time learnt the Japanese language, with a man who has been at the heart of Japan's Mingei (folk craft) movement, Mr. Sanshiro Ikeda. Mr. Ikeda, introduced her to Mr. Suzuki, founder of the Suzuki violin school, and to Mr. Yanagi, the poet, potter and artist. "These special men introduced me to the magic of making art and living life as an art form.",

KENYA
After a solo Sumi (Chinese ink painting) show in Matsumoto in 1960, Wai-te made her first trip to Kenya. (She was on an East African visit with her father, who was then working in Somalia). She loved the whole region so much that when her father left Africa, she decided to stay on and settle down. She made Kenya her home because the qualities of expression that she had learnt in Japan could find the freedom and opportunity for development here.

For over thirty years, she has lived in Kenya, helping to develop the local art scene. As an artist, she needed a place to exhibit her work and that of other artists too. This requirement led to the cofounding of Gallery Watatu (Nairobi), in 1968.

In 1989, she founded the Wildebeeste Workshops in Lamu and Athi River. Wildebeeste Workshops bring together local and international artists, whose common goal is to protect earth's fragile ecosystems and promote environmental awareness at the grass roots level. Wildebeeste, prolific in Wai-te's art, signify the nature of both humans and animals to migrate and exemplify the strength of nature. Dozens of weavers, print makers, painters, jewellery designers and writers involved in artistic environmental projects may be found in Lamu at any given time. The 50 metre long "African Story Snake" is a famous piece of art. Yony displayed it at the United Nation's "Earth Summit" in Rio de Janeiro, in June of 1992. The art work was as a result of combined efforts by Yony and Lamu Islanders. This is one of her many contributions to Kenya.

Utilising the power of art to translate messages, Wai-te's imagery addresses Kenya's environmental and social issues. In the 1980's the artist formed the Mkonokono Women's Group, which not only provided jobs for rural women but was also an outlet for creative expression. Women of different origins work on tapestries that beckon environmental and cultural awareness.

"BACK HOME"
Deeply involved with activities in Kenya, Yony Wai-te unknowingly, distanced herself (for three decades or so) from those immensely important to her life as an artist. She suddenly realised that it was time to head back to the place and to the people who influenced her ideas and style. The people she says taught her self expression far more than all her academic studies and universities of Hawaii and California had ever done. So, in 1994, Yony went back to Japan and held a retrospective exhibition in Matsumoto, that consisted of almost everything she had done since leaving Japan.

This was not to be her last trip to Japan. This is a country she tries to visit at least every year. She has many friends and lots of fond memories. Japan may have changed technologically (she says), but much of the culture remains unchanged. A memorable experience she happily narrates, is living on a river boat that was on a river in Tokyo, during her first trip to Japan, a long time ago. While there, she met a Japanese girl who, on learning that Yony was looking for somebody to teach her Japanese Culture, introduced Wai-te to her father. He turned out to be Mr. Sanshiro Ikeda. He became her mentor. Though the river is long gone (replaced by a highway), the memory lives on.

1999 is no different from previous years. This renowned artist is as busy as ever. From February 2nd to 16th 1999, she held an exhibition at Gallery Watatu. Wai-te treasures her experiences in Japan, and has drawn upon Japanese art for inspiration. This is the reason as to why she requested that the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, His Excellency Morihisa Aoki, to open the occasion, a request, which he willingly accepted. The opening was well attended. The exhibition consisted of paintings, drawings and wall hangings by Wai-te and the artists of Wildebeeste Workshops.

After this exhibition, Yony Wai-te plans to go to Japan in April this year, where she will have an exhibition in Tokyo. Next year, with Gallery Watatu, she hopes to hold a gathering of 200 women artists from 20 countries all over the world, who are members of an international artists association called "Women Beyond Borders".

A word to the Kenyans, "Kenya is the most beautiful and diverse country in the world". Being her home (she is now a citizen), she encourages the preservation and enhancement of this natural environment.

In the art corridors her name is not new (her works adorn The Stanley, Serena and Norfolk Hotels), but she has this to say to fellow artists, "art can save the world and keep you happy the whole of your life."

And to the young artists, "there are no mistakes, only results that you don't expect".

From the March 1999 Japan newsletter published by the Japanese Embassy Information and Culture Centre in Nairobi