Celebrated artist Paul Kiddo dies

AFTER a career defined by his remarkable paintings of mostly rural Namibian life, culture and idiosyncrasies, celebrated artist Paul Kiddo died this week.

Born at Bethanie in 1949, Kiddo discovered the incredible potential of paint in his teens and began his career as an artist in the third decade of his life.

Reflecting the scenes from his upbringing in rural Namibia through the arresting and often cheerfully populated landscapes which are his signature, Kiddo was a master of depicting Namibian slices of life.

A self-taught artist who graduated from displaying his work in an inventive rock garden in perfect view of the local bus stop near his home in Katutura to exhibiting extensively both locally and internationally, Kiddo’s career highlights include his time as an artist-in-residence in Berlin, a lifetime achievement award at the Bank Windhoek Triennale in 2017, and his inclusion in collections held by the National Art Gallery of Namibia, the Namibian Arts Association and the esteemed German Würth collection.

Instantly identifiable in numerous Namibian group exhibitions, Kiddo’s iconic work remains a testimony to his love of nature and his talent for celebrating the ordinary triumphs and travails of local life in colourful, story-rich scenes.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Namibian artist Paul Kiddo’s passing. We’re honoured to have worked with the artist and experienced his humble nature, as well as his passion for painting,” says StArt Art Gallery curator Gina Figueira.

“His highly detailed paintings of Namibia’s landscapes and its communities are an integral part of the story of contemporary Namibian painting. We wish his family and friends strength and peace in this difficult time,” she says.

Figueira’s warm remembrance is echoed by numerous members of the arts fraternity, including curator Elize van Huyssteen, who was a close friend of the late Kiddo.

“He was one of our artistic tribe members. We connected on a level that goes beyond our background, education, problems and struggles,” she says.

“He was one of a kind, he was kind and he was my kind. I loved his art, but I loved him as well.”

-martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter; marthamukaiwa.com

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