Life In The City

2012

Oil on canvas

  • 62cm (h)
  • 83cm (w)
Charles Nkomo of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Charles Nkomo

Painter

“Life in the city is different to life in the rural areas. In the countryside, you see your neighbours every day, but in the city you can stay two or three weeks without seeing your neighbours. That’s the kind of environment we live in.”

Urban life is the same the world over; perhaps Africans feel its emptiness and lack of humanity especially keenly, as their social lives in rural areas are so interconnected. In the city, people live so close together and yet they are further apart than ever.

A vivid, vibrant painting reflecting the constant to-and-fro of individuals in the city, each with their own story to tell. Charles is best-known for his colourful and confident paintings revealing contemporary African life.

Originally from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Charles now lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa, and he is shown by a number of galleries in South Africa, Zimbabwe and USA.