The Gods of Money 020

In September 2015, several of RxAxLxF’s artworks of the Gods of Money series were removed from the Kenya Art Fair in Nairobi, Kenya. The decision was made by the management of the Kenya Art Fair. When RxAxLxF asked for an official explanation of the case, the management declined to give one. Instead he was told verbally that the management was afraid that his artworks ‘were illegal’, though without specifying why exactly. The rumours were that ‘The works disrespect symbols of the Kenyan state and deal with unlawful witchcraft’.

The day before the First Lady of Kenya Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta came to the Kenya Art Fair, his artworks were removed from the exhibition. He was told that ‘the management of the Kenya Art Fair did not want to make the First Lady feel uncomfortable by having to look at something illegal’. The Kenya Art Fair returned the artworks later to him. That edition of the Kenyan Art Fair was sponsored among others by the German government, to promote diversity and free speech.

Margaret Kenyatta visiting The Kenya Art Fair

The series of artworks ‘The Gods of Money’, are about how African spiritual heritage is still suppressed by a Western colonial legacy and replaced by the contemporary Powers (aka’Gods’) of Money. RxAxLxF did several internships with African indigenous priests (often referred to as ‘Juju Masters’), who trained him in how to put specific spiritual energy in the works so that they will generate money for the owners of the works.

Kenya Art Fair 2015 Invitation