The genius of the Trzebinski family that gave Kenya it's
most expensive artist
By Nairobian
Reporter | 9yrs ago | 2 min read
Sbish, and (Top) Errol and Tonio and his wife
Anna
An inquest into Tonio Trzebinski’s murder recently opened in
Nairobi — making world headlines — 15 years after Kenya’s most expensive artist
was killed in Karen, Nairobi. A single 9mm slug tore through his 41-year-old
chest that October 16, 2001 as the adventurous playboy was visiting his
mistress, dashing Danish model and game hunter, Natasha Illum Berg.
The Trzebinskis were from Gydnia, Poland, where they lost
everything during World War II. They moved from Kazakstan by rail through
Siberia’s frozen wasteland, then Palestine via Baghdad and on to Egypt, England
and Kenya over 50 years ago.
Sbish Trzebinski: The complex, humorous,
irascible and reclusive lover of classical music, jazz, art, cinema, aquariums
and acting (with Nairobi City Players at Kenya National Theatre), relocated his
entire family here after graduating from England’s Polytechnic School of
Architecture in 1958.
In a 40-year career, Sbish, with partner Tibor Gaal,
designed Traveller’s Beach, Severin Sea Lodge, Tropical Village, Two Fishes,
Kaskazi and Jadini Beach hotels — Mombasa’s best- featuring their trademark
geodesic makuti roofs, meandering swimming pools and sisal poles on mangrove
and blue gum trees.
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Shanzu’s Flamingo Beach Hotel was transformed into a
marvellous aquatic amphitheatre from acres of useless coral reef, while
Tanzania’s Kunduchi Beach was among the world’s 300 best of its day. The man
who spoke Polish, French, Russian and Arabic, succumbed to diabetes in April
2005, with post memorial service refreshments at the Tamarind Village, his
creation.
Errol Trzebinski: Wife of Sbish and mother of
Bruce, a Malindi-based author of Elephant Droppings, Tonio and Gabriela, the
British-based artist. The now 79-year old wrote Silence Will Speak (from which
the 1985 Oscar award winning film, Out of Africa, was based), Kenyan Pioneers
and Life and Death of Lord Errol besides eight cookery books and a defunct
cookery column in the Sunday Nation. Errol exposed the sex and alcohol crazy happy valley set.
Tonio Trzebinski: His art exhibitions were
opened by Vice President, the late Prof George Saitoti, while his invite-only
exhibitions in Naivasha featured a full orchestra, the finest fines. But hey!
one of his life-size paintings cost between Sh1 million and Sh3 million.
The alumnus of England’s prestigious Slade Art School had
predicted dying before 45. The lover of game fishing and surfing was cremated
with his crash helmet, a surfboard and his favourite painting. Mistress Natasha
wasn’t invited, but flew over the ceremony in an aircraft!
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Anna Trzebinski: The German-born fashion designer (whose
clients include supermodel Kate Moss and Princess Caroline of Monaco) fell in
love with Tonio, three months after her wedding in 1988. Tonio also left his
girlfriend for the London School of Economics graduate. They had two children.
Being the daughter of Michael Cunnigham-Reid, the stepson of Lord Delamere,
Anna’s marriage to Maasai ‘moran,’ Loyaban Lemarti, caused a stir in 2005.
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