A Tribute to Plart Through His First Collection: Imigani
Plart was a young Rwandan fine artist who drew his inspiration from traditional Rwandan proverbs. Learn more about his journey.
Plart
Niyigena Placide “Plart” was a son, a friend and a surrealist young Rwandan artist, born on 10 June 1999. He passed away on the night of 14 January 2020. During his time on earth, Plart was an inspiration to many who got the chance to know him.
Beginning's of Plart's Creative Journey
Plart had been practicing art by drawing and painting on paper since an early age. He has expressed his own visual and conceptual vocabulary through painting.
Creating Fiction Stories Became Plart's Reality
Plart's artistic inspiration stemmed from his family's nightly ritual of chanting, riddles, and sharing proverbs. These stories fueled his creative imagination, allowing him to create unique characters and narratives.
Storytelling
His interest in Rwandan proverbs came purely from questioning his soul, and by exploring these proverbs, he found calmness within him. This lead to him becoming a storyteller. He captured the guidance and wisdom from Rwandan stories and fed these to the younger generation.
Animist
Plart was an Animist who believed that not only humans and animals have a spiritual essence that influence the galaxy, but also objects, plants, rivers and weather systems. In the Imigani collection, Plart created a surrealistic world of colorful portraits.
Imigani, a Kinyarwanda word for fairytales or proverbs.
As you can notice in the Imigani collection, he liked to mix humans with other species. This is also a reference to Rwandan proverbs as animals were used as “actors” in proverbs.
Iris Connection
Plart's use of the iris as a central element in his paintings reflects his Animist beliefs. The iris, with its unique patterns and colors, embodies the soul, connecting humans, animals, and nature in a shared spiritual realm.
Celebrating Women in Plart's Art
Plart's paintings celebrated women's beauty, strength, and wisdom, reflecting his deep respect for Rwandan proverbs. These proverbs often highlighted women's roles, which Plart wanted to showcase, especially in a time when Rwandan traditions were sometimes overlooked.
Forever Honoring Plart
During his time on earth, Plart was an inspiration to many who got the chance to know him. “He was strong like water” “He could be loud without speaking” “His energy reaches on all of us even while he is at peace."
Think Green: Plart's Film
Plart's high school film project, 'Think Green,' won first place in a competition promoting environmental awareness. This film showcases his early interest in important social issues.
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