He is arguably Mombasa town’s master sculptor. But he started humbly, working as a freelance.
It was a survival-for-the-fittest scenario, when artists blatantly infringed on others’ copyrights in a society yet to appreciate art.
Now his works, comprising life-sized and miniature sculptures, symbols and monuments, adorn the streets, beach hotels, parks and private homes as far as Mtwapa and Diani in the North Coast and South Coast respectively.
Tom Onea, 43, has produced more than 100 pieces of art in the 10 years he has lived in Mombasa, and now comfortably takes home Sh100,000 per month. A sculpture of a Turkana woman carrying a pot fetched him Sh300,000.
He also has several awards to show for his efforts. In 2001, he was awarded Best Overall Sculptor during an Aids awareness exhibition at the KICC in Nairobi.
He also won an award at a UNDP-sponsored exhibition at Fort Jesus, Mombasa, for his sculpture depicting famine in Africa.
His sculpture, the Nyayo Monument, sits on the Makupa Roundabout, which ushers into the island, travellers to the town centre from the direction of Makupa Causeway and Mombasa International Airport.
The sculpture symbolises the 24-year reign of the country’s second president Daniel arap Moi.
Other sites that feature his sculptures are Sai Rock, Indiana and Pinewood beach hotels, Ngomongo Village Theme Park, Little Chef Restaurant and private homes.
Mr Onea recently added a new masterpiece on Prime Minister Raila Odinga to his large collection.
It weighs 200 kilogrammes and stands seven feet, and with a clear, tasteful finish. It has been attracting viewers to his workshop in Bombolulu area of Mombasa.
Mr Onea gets orders from clients who want specific sculptures. His charges vary, and are largely negotiated on the basis of tastes and finish.
His key clients include art galleries in Nairobi, but a good number of his works have found their way abroad after being bought by private art collectors.
“I did not chose art; art chose me. I started art in my mother’s womb, kicking left, right and centre and over the years I perfected it,” Mr Onea told the Nation.
He horned his skills at Karanda Primary School in Kisumu County. Without a qualified arts teacher, Mr Onea started moulding animals using clay.
“The lack of a teacher did not deter me from exploring my talents until I was admitted to Nyabondo High school.”
It was at Nyabondo that Onea met a Catholic missionary, Father Leo Bartels, who would have a profound effect on him with regard to on sculpturing.
“He introduced me to the basics skills of sculpturing. This led me to sit the Art O level examination as the only candidate in the school.”
He proceeded to Agoro Sare for his A-level education, and once more, he was the only student who registered for Art. Luckily, the school had an Art teacher
“Later, I was admitted for a Diploma in Graphic Design at the Kenya Polytechnic from 1989 to 1991,” he said.
But starting work as a sculptor was not a rosy path for Mr Onea, since few people in the country appreciated the value of arts.
According to the artist, this is a big drawback. “Art can be a lucrative profession to most idle youths who spend their time on drugs,” he said, adding that though the skills exist in virtually everyone.
“With persistent creativity and practise, the art spirit awakens for the benefit of the artist,” he said.
Asked if he had been contracted to make the PM’s statue, Mr Onea said he was inspired by the Tom Mboya life-size statue on Tom Mboya Street in Nairobi.
Mr Mboya, a trade unionist and statesman, was assassinated six years into Independence. President Kibaki unveiled his statue last year.
Mr Onea says he decided to prove wrong the perception that Kenya lacked competent sculptors.
“With the PM’s statue I have disapproved them. Art lovers can see the potential to create life size sculptures,” he said.
He maintains that his best work remains a 1999 sculpture depicting a man person suffering from Aids.
“It was a wonderful piece of art with unique originality not done before,” he declared.
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