His complex canvases, with their rich colour palette and sophisticated blend of East-African and Western imagery, continue to fascinate. Until September 4th, Basel’s Kunsthalle is honouring the 38-year-old anglo-kenyan painter with a solo show, hot on the heels of Madrid, where his paintings dialogued with work by one of his ultimate references, Goya. He spoke to super-curator Hans Ulrich Obrist.
Hans Ulrich Obrist: How did you come to art, or, if you prefer, how did art come to you? Michael Armitage: I started when I was about six years old. Like many kids, I drew a jet plane… [Laughs.] From there, I started making comics, that sort of thing. At nine or ten, I had a great art teacher who took me under his wing. I spent many weekends with him. He introduced me to oil painting, which was quite unusual for my age. He also introduced me to engraving and drawing. Art soon became central to my life, and still is.