Vivid Synergies! is an artist residency by Afriart Gallery (AAG) that has been funded through the Ignite Culture Grant. The program was meant to create synergies between East African visual artists, writers, and curators. From May 2023 until April 2024 there have been three residencies in total, namely Residency I with Denzel Muhumuza (visual artist), Gretta Ingabire (writer), Gloria Coutinho (curator); Residency II with Rebecca Khamala (visual artist), Lloyd Lutara (writer); and Residency III with Daniel Atenyi (visual artist) and Matt Kayem (writer). These three groups each dealt with different themes spanning from the convergence of nature and human connection to reimagining urban narratives in Kampala to human emotions in a dialogue between music and art.
Each residency group processed and built on two cultural products being released at the end of each residency: An exhibition and a book. These were not stay-in residencies, the artists were free to meet and create from wherever they were. Throughout the project, there have been events opening the residency journey to the public through three studio talks at Afriart Gallery and three workshops in various outdoor locations in Kampala. The studio conversations provided insightful glimpses into the residency journeys of the participating artists and engaged diverse audiences across art and non-art public and anthropological and mental health actors as event moderators. The talks took place leaning towards the end of each residency working as activation for each upcoming project showcase.
Studio Talk Residency 1 at Afriart Gallery
Studio Talk Residency 2 in Afriart Gallery
The workshops marked one of the first events during each residency, enabling the residency artists to intensely research their topic of interest through exchange with selected local communities through writing, art, and gaming activities. The artists gathered knowledge and information on their respective themes and experience to work with partners such as ECOaction Uganda, Utalii Creative, WPI Foundation Uganda, and KCCA (in the case of Residency II).
Workshop Residency 3 at Sankara Pan-African Library
In a dynamic series of artistic endeavors spanning three residencies, each Vivid Synergies! group culminated in a project showcase including an exhibition event and a book launch.
Residency I celebrated the launch of a visual and poetry showcase titled THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE TRUTH on December 2nd, 2023, at Akamwesi Shopping Mall in Kampala's suburban Kyebando. Curated by Gloria Coutinho, this unconventional exhibition aimed to broaden art accessibility and engage the public. Featuring wide digital artworks by Denzel Muhumuza and floating poetry canvases by Gretta Ingabire under the mall’s glass dome, the showcase sought to evoke a connection with nature and ancestral wisdom. Live performances by Mitirikpwe Patricia, Collin Sserunjogi, and Ingabire Gretta added vibrancy to the opening day. The exhibition was accessible to the public until the 6th of January 2024 and garnered interest from mall visitors, especially among the younger audience drawn to the digital and Afro-futuristic elements. This residency was rounded off through a successful book launch on February 9th, 2024, with the publication of the concurrent book title "The Sun, The Moon and the Truth" by Gretta Ingabire.
Exhibition Showcase Residency 1 at Akamwesi Shopping Mall
Exhibition event Residency II titled TUULA. ZANYA. WUMULA (sit. play. rest) opened on March 28th, 2024, at Railway Gardens along Jinja Road in central Kampala. This showcase, focused on public rest spaces, featured innovative installations by the visual artist Rebecca Khamala such as stools, benches, and game stations, strategically positioned throughout the garden to captivate passersby. The curated artworks not only invited interaction but also sparked conversations about the importance of accessible and welcoming urban environments. Attendees such as locals and the local art community appreciated the creativity and relevance of the artworks in an evolving urban landscape, with many expressing enthusiasm for future collaborations aimed at enhancing public spaces.