I emailed Hans to ask for some more information about the Stations of the Cross painting in Nyalenda Centre Church. This was his reply ....
"Since the 1980s we have been running a small Art Academy in the Nyalenda slums: a 3 years course, day school, for young people with artistic talent. Up to now we have trained about 150 artists.
Ten years ago I had formed a small group of three former students, for the purpose of producing catechetial material. Then came a request from one of our homes in England for Stations of the Cross. We designed that one with the group, and the three executed it. It was in full colour. Then, we decided to try an adapted design by colouring only the important people, and keep the rest in grey tones. We did nothing with this new edition and kept it on our files.
Now there was this church in Nyalenda Centre. It had the Stations of the Cross, just framed cheap prints. At Christmas time two years ago a fire broke out. It destroyed the roof and part of the walls, including the Stations. Somebody donated some money for new Stations, and I asked the three original artists to paint their second edition on the walls. Through the limited colour scheme it is very effective: clearly visible from a distance."
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