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The streets of Kampala tell stories—raw, unpolished, and full of life. Among the hustle and bustle, amidst the noise of boda bodas and street vendors, there’s a quieter narrative unfolding on walls, poles, and trees: the vibrant, eccentric world of local "Doctor" advertisements. These seemingly ordinary posters, advertising solutions for every imaginable problem, are the heartbeat of my art. This is the story of how they journey from the streets to the frames on your walls.
Discovering Hidden Gems
Discovering Hidden Gems
Everything starts from a walk in the streets of Kampala, especially after a rain has fallen heavily. The paper itself becomes supple where it was previously crisp, the ink contracts and swells, it has tactility on the skin. I seek out posts that are faded and seemed to be oldest but have catchphrases or standalone words in large letters or distorted in some way. These posters are sometimes half-teared, faded by the effect of the summer sun or smeared with mud, but nothing like that can fully be captured by a studio.
Carefully Collecting the Past
Carefully Collecting the Past
Every poster I scrape from a tree or a pole seems as if the world uncovered some hidden historical nugget. Which begin to sound more like paper clips rather than scraps: They are relics of belief, culture and resistance. I employ tools when I am taking them out since damaging the finish is unprofessional; the material is somewhat brittle and I try to take as little of the design as I can get away with. Many stories are behind every fold, wrinkle and rip and I always attempt to preserve all of them.
Preserving the Authenticity
Preserving the Authenticity
To prevent the poster changing its form after being collected, the posters undergo the process of drying and pressing. I don’t try to correct them, to make them better or more beautiful—I roll them as they are, with all the crude truth. All these flaws are for them marks of achievement and evidences of where they are coming from.
To increase their durability, I apply a layer of protectivecoat to avoid more fading while preserving the original appearance of any poster.
Giving the Posters a New Life
Giving the Posters a New Life
What may just have been left hanging on a tree now becomes the focal point of discussion. These framed posters are not mere artwork, they are pieces of Kampala’s heart, both urban legends and pop culture. They trigger curiosity, laughter and memories of the bland short-spirited culture common on the streets of Kampala.
What was once considered mere garnishes are in fact storiers in these pieces. They maintain a dying form of word of mouth advertising while embracing the dynamism of Ugandan artistry in the city of Kampala. By framing them, I’m giving these posters a second life, allowing them to transcend their original purpose and become part of your story, too.
Take Home a Journey
Every framed piece carries with it the rain, sun, dust, and vibrancy of Kampala. When you hang one on your wall, you’re not just adding art to your space—you’re sharing in the journey of urban pop art and bringing the streets of Kampala into your home.
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