Artist Statement: This Sing for Hope Piano was created in Koboko, Uganda as a love letter to the place, its people, and its unstoppable rhythm. At the heart of the design are gorillas — one of Uganda’s most iconic and beloved animals. To me, the gorilla symbolizes strength, protection, family, and quiet intelligence: the perfect guardian spirit for a community instrument meant to bring people together. Around the gorillas, the piano becomes a moving story map of everyday life in Koboko. You’ll find musicians and dancers, echoing the way music travels through the streets and turns ordinary moments into celebration. There are grass and mud houses, grounding the artwork in local architecture and tradition. Bodaboda motorcycles appear as well — a tribute to the essential pulse of public transport and the people who keep the town connected, one ride at a time. The patterns and symbols also reference the vibrant market, full of color, trade, conversation, and community energy. For me, the market is where life happens: where stories are exchanged, where cultures meet, and where creativity is constantly improvised. Painted in my bold, graphic "Momoshi" style, the piano is designed to feel playful and approachable — an invitation for anyone, especially children, to touch it, play it, and make it their own. This instrument isn’t just an object; it’s a public stage, a meeting point, and a reminder that even in difficult times, art and music can create a shared space of joy, dignity, and hope.
Sing for Hope Project Leader Peter Herr, a.k.a. Momoshi, was born in Hungary, and raised in Africa, Germany, and Spain. He has worked as an artist since the early 2000‘s, with a focus on multimedia and dynamic public art. Selected highlights include Momoshi Style Hostel (City Hostel Nuremberg-Fuerth, Germany); daily digital artwork project Momoshidrops; murals for Art Museum Kumudori in Wemding; animation (Momoshi Space Race) for Glanzlichter Festival, Fuerth/ Germany; Sing for Hope Piano in Wolfsburg, Autostadt for the Global Social Business Summit; "Kiss Me" murals in Spain and Germany; virtual reality designs and applications for market research company GFK; Momoshi Streetwear; and more. As Sing for Hope Project Leader for Europe, Peter is focused on guiding Sing for Hope’s current creative art activations that uplift, inspire, and support refugee populations.
