The Beauty House at Gibb’s Farm

Angela Fischer’s (1) book African Adorned examples the unique beauty of Africa. It has manifested itself in the most striking ways, mammalian marking, bird plumage, flowers, the African sky and indigenous peoples. In this house we explore beauty. Is it in the eye of the beholder? Is it natural adornment such as the stripes of a zebra or is it something added?

Charles Bies, (2) a SANAA artist-in-residence, has carved many portraits over the years while at Gibb’s Farm. On occasion, he has obliged travelers scheduled to reside on the Farm for about a week. In his intimate portrait of a Maasai women, he captures the delicate nature of her spirit and adornment.

Riziki Kateya, (3) a SANAA artist-in-residence, captures the Hybiscus, a spectacular show of beauty, is used to adorn the body, such as Polynesia. The Gibb’s Farm flower gardens are likely the largest private floral gardens in Tanzania. They were first established nearly 50 years ago by Margaret Gibb’s as a way to bring beauty to a coffee estate residence – beauty from flowers and the birds they attract.

SANAA celebrates art in our region. However, for the Beauty House we include more than East Africa for the purpose exploring the theme. The details of the two masks from the Kuba people (4)(between the Sankuru and Kasai Rivers of Zaire) are examples the importance adornment plays on the African continent. The Kete people, a sub tribe of the Kuba, create art that is characterized by its use of geometric decoration and cowrie shells, and by application of red cadwood pigment to their carvings.

African Living Spa Encounter the healing power of Olkaria Clay from the indigenous healers of the African Living Spa. Traditionally used to temporarily adorn the body and soften the complexion, Olkaria red clay is used to remove superficial impurities and dead skin cells as it softens and smoothes the skin. Applied warm and moist over the whole body, this velvety natural exfoliate is allowed to dry slowly. The skin is then gently massage-rubbed, reducing the clay to a fine power. As the skin yields to this gentle but thorough exfoliation, the powder residue is gently rinsed away under the soft rain of the Vichy-like shower in the outside or inside shower. One may prefer to soak in a full bath as one looks out into the surrounding gardens.

Peter Ray Mwasha’s work Beauty (5), a SANAA artist-in-residence, celebrates adornment & beauty in his painting left. Of the two women one is completely decorated and to be noticed, while the other is completely without adornment - and just as beautify (if not more so).

In another work by Charles Bies (6), he as represented the female form in a very simple style some would call Shitani. These women are in various poses and depicted in daily events.

(1) Angela Fischer, photography & literature

(5) Top: Peter Ray, Beauties, acrylic on canvas, A Commissioned Sanaa Work.

(6) Left: Charles Bies, Women Mpingo wood carving..