Vibrant colour: Nickel Mundabi with one of his paintings.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
In all of Nickel Mundabi’s works he tells a story, each focused on his life, his observations and his passion: art.
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St Paul’s African House is hosting a fundraising event, Paint with Nickel, to help keep the organisation alive.
St Paul’s African House partnerships and programs manager Kate Radevski said the event would be an intimate setting for attendees to see Mr Mundabi in all his artistic glory.
“It'll be an opportunity for people to meet Nickel, learn more about his art and a little bit more about him and see his incredible talent,” she said.
Specialising in a range of mediums, Mr Mundabi said his works all had something in common — in that they were all different.
From wooden carvings and sand paintings to acrylics and oils, much of his craft was first passed down by his grandfather, who was also an artist.
“When I went to school, I wouldn’t do it just to learn but to do arts. I went to university to do arts, all I do is for art,” Mr Mundabi said.
Like many others that visit St Paul’s African House, he has endured many hardships.
Before coming to Shepparton in 2009 as a refugee, Mr Mundabi was forced to flee his homeland in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mr Mundabi went on to teach art full-time in Cameroon, where he created a painting and sculpting workshop to teach art to young people and refugees.
He said his inspiration for his art came from the story of his life, but also in what he saw in the community.
While all his works differ, he said a common theme ties them to him: masks.
Artwork: A hand-carved mask by Nickel Mundabi on the wall of St Paul’s African House.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“For me, the mask is very powerful,” he said.
“The masks represent a culture, it represents a spirit of ancestors that represents a spirit of family, it represents my spirit.”
Since settling in Shepparton, Mr Mundabi has been attempting to find full-time work as an art teacher or within the arts profession.
Mr Mundabi has been a part of St Paul’s African House since its inception; he found it as a place of solace and somewhere to do his art, many walls now lined with his pieces.
The fundraising event comes as St Paul’s African House faces possible closure in the coming months without an injection of funds.
Ms Radevski said around 300 people from multicultural communities used the space to learn, create and form community.
“We're still just speaking to whoever we can about finding some further funding but otherwise we'll be open until July,” she said.
She said proceeds from the Paint with Nickel event would go towards the survival of African House and the African Cultures Festival.
Masks: A piece by Nickel Mundabi that incorporates masks.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“We are still fortunate to have received some funding but we only received a third of what we requested this year for the festival and that's about less than half of what we normally have,” she said.
“So we hope that this fundraiser will just give us a bit of a boost to be able to do what we normally do, but it’ll be great for the community to see all Nickel does.”
All materials are supplied for Paint with Nickel, which will take place on Sunday, April 10, from 2pm to 4pm. Tickets are available by calling 0447 215 845 or emailing partnerships@stpaulsafricanhouse.org
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