The Lilanga Factory

Hendrick Lilanga

Was Keith Haring (see the photo on the right, source: Wikipedia) really inspired by Hendrick Lilanga´s grandfather? The biography of Keith Haring says: “In 1976, Haring enrolled in the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh, a commercial arts school. He soon realized that he had little interest in becoming a commercial graphic artist and, after two semesters, dropped out. Haring continued to study and work on his own and in 1978 had a solo exhibition of his work at the Pittsburgh Arts and Crafts Center." It is the same year 1978 as George Lilanga, Hendrick´s grandfather had the exhibition in Washington. Did Haring visit the Lilanga exhibition?

The book “George Lilanga – Colours of Africa” by Cesare Pippi states: “ Keith Haring himself said in an interview that he has been influenced by Lilanga´s art”. Keith Haring himself painted a small painting to Simon Mpata, brother of E.S.Tingatinga which shows that Keith Haring was inspired by Tinga Tinga and Lilanga Art.

Noel Kapanda

Which Noel Kapanda? Noel Kapanda is maybe the least known Tingatinga painter in Dar es Salaam but he should be the best known. Many people doubt that he is the almost 30 year’s younger brother of Damian Msagula. A few know that he was the centre figure in painting the sculptures of George Lilanga. Later it was established that he painted all (at least earlier) works of George Lilanga. His back fall depended on the fact that his Japanese “sponsor” suddenly died and Noel Kapanda found himself “alone”. He was nevertheless invited to Japan 7 times. Please notice that the paintings below are painted on the wooden sheets and must be shipped separately.