About the artist
Donald Wasswa (b. 1984), known artistically as Waswad, is a contemporary and multidisciplinary artist based in Kampala, Ugada. With a strong academic foundation from Kyambogo University, where he specialised in sculpture, Wasswa has established himself as a notable visual artist. His practice has evolved to encompass sculpture, painting and performance. He is also the founder of Art Punch Studio, a hub for creative collaboration in the heart of Kampala.
Wasswa's artistic exploration centres on the theme of transformation, exploring the complex interactions between individuals and their environments, the intricacies of social connections, and the diverse expressions of multiculturalism as seen in religion and ideology. His work offers a deep reflection on how these elements intersect and impact one another, particularly in the realm of communication.
Wasswa's contributions to the art world have garnered significant recognition. In 2016, he was the recipient of the Merit Award at the Absa L'Atelier competition , and in 2017, he was selected for the prestigious Sylt Artist Residency. His talent and vision have been showcased in numerous exhibitions both locally and internationally, solidifying his reputation as a key figure in contemporary art.
Tulumba Kyeere, Study of Manimals at the Early Stage of Development I
Ink on paper - 2018
These artworks form part of a series from Wasswa's 2018 solo exhibition in the Absa Gallery, entitled Degenerative Evolution of the Living. The words “degenerative” and “evolution” together form an oxymoron. To degenerate is to change to a worse state or condition whereas evolution is the process of slow change and development. In biological terms, evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. Evolutionary processes give rise to biodiversity at every level of biological organization. Every known living species desires to propagate better offspring than itself, ensuring its long-term survival (Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection). Logically, species will do everything and anything during theirmtime to improve so as to ensure their continued survival. At some point on the evolution continuum, as the species kept tweaking their DNA for better progeny, something “went awry” and highly developed life forms were created unexpectedly. They became the predecessors of the first known “humans”. The intellect of the new life forms was so advanced that soon they overrun their “creators”. Because of the elevated intelligence of the new life forms, they started ruling over the now “lower” life forms who created them. They subjugated them and gave them new nouns—dogs, cows, horses, etc., while they called themselves “humans”.
