Vivid Synergies! is a residency project by Afriart Gallery connecting a visual artist with a writer and a curator – supported through the Ignite Culture Fund. The program targets East African creatives based in Uganda, who are enthusiastic to work on contemporary art storytelling. From May 2023 until May 2024 there are three residencies in total, each fusing a creative duo of a writer and a visual artist working together for four months, joined by a curator towards the end of each residency.
Vivid Synergies! focuses on (re)defining visual literacy through self-determined documentation, distribution and archiving of artworks – each creative team processes and builds on two cultural products being released at the end of each residency: An Exhibition and a Book. The key is a collaborative spirit - the residency program thrives for impactful collaboration within the local arts ecosystem and empowers the role of art mediation within and beyond the creative sector in Uganda.
EXHIBITION 1ST RESIDENCY THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE TRUTH
Residency artists Ingabire Gretta, Muhumza Denzel, Gloria Coutinho and Program manager Sina Weber (from right to left)
On Saturday, 2nd December 2023 we celebrated the opening of the visual arts and poetry showcase The Sun, the Moon and the Truth by Muhumuza Denzel, Ingabire Gretta, and Gloria Coutinho. The exhibition was running until 6th January 2024 at Akamwesi Shopping Mall in Kampala’s suburban Kyebando and chanted the outcome of the first residency group. The choice of an unconventional location was to extend the art experience to new audiences and to engage the everyday public.
Wide artworks by the Ugandan digital artist Denzel Muhumuza and floating poetry by the Rwandan writer Gretta Ingabire stimulated the audience to tap into our already existing inner connection with our natural environment while cultivating a sense of appreciation as well as attempting to rekindle ancestral bonds through the lens of culture and tradition. The walk-through exhibition was curated by Gloria Coutinho.
The opening cocktail brought together the local art community and curious walk-in audience, allowing them to explore the artworks under the mall’s glass dome amidst the shopping stores – the event was accompanied by a music live performance by Mitirikpwe Patricia and Collin Sserunjogi together with Ingabire Gretta, featuring selected poetry from the exhibition.
The book, equally titled as the exhibition: The Sun, The Moon and The Truth, represents a curated composition with images by Muhumuza Denzel and written words by Ingabire Gretta. It will be soon available via AAG Publications.
WORK PROGRESS 2nd RESIDENCY
Field trip: Lloyd Lutara and Rebecca Khamala in central Kampala
Our second residency artists are exploring the theme of "Rest spaces in central Kampala" from both a narrative and design perspective. In October 2023, they had a field trip to downtown locations like the Independence Monument and public gardens, investigating the spatial and architectural significance for the ordinary audience.
During excursions to Kyansonzi forest and local villages close to the Kenyan border, the visual artist Rebecca Khamala delved into the materiality of local urban fabrics, particularly reeds, different palms, papyrus, and nappier grass. She aims to apply her findings to design seating and shadow objects for urban contexts. Lloyd Lutara, in his role as a writer, plans to weave Rebecca's work into a comic story, exploring themes of societal disruption and fragmented living, with Kampala as a melting pot.
Stripped nappier grass which is used for furnish production across Uganda
In January 2024, the artists have a workshop in selected public places in central Kampala, combining art and community activities to capture the city's voices, especially on a communal level. They pose the question: If a city's public spaces reflect its state of being, what does Kampala say about its present, past, and potential future?
ONBOARDING 3rd RESIDENCY
Matt Kayem and Daniel Atenyi
We are welcoming Daniel Atenyi in the role of a visual artist and Matt Kayem in the role of a writer to the third residency group.
Daniel Atenyi is a Ugandan artist based in Kampala, passionately navigating the challenges of our modern world through his charcoal-on-paper creations. He was part of the Silhouette Projects residency by AAG in 2023. Matt Kayem is a Ugandan contemporary artist, art writer, and critic. His work explores issues of identity, race, African history, black consciousness, religion, sexuality, and pop culture. Kayem has published several articles across East African art channels such as START journal, Africanah.org, and Nairobi Contemporary.
We are excited to see their journey unfolding during this residency.
Follow the AAG YouTube Channel to watch the Vivid Synergies documentation episodes with all artists’ residency journeys.
