Jacqueline Katesi Kalange, a multidisciplinary artist based in Kampala has begun her 10-week residency at G.A.S. Lagos. Her artistic practice encompasses visual art, traditional crafts, sculpture, performance, architecture, and research. She plans to use the period in Lagos to expand her current practice which focuses on upcycling single-use plastics and second-hand clothes to create diverse and often monumental sculptures. Community engagement is a cornerstone of her residency plans and she intends to foster collaborations with local communities through workshops and convenings.
Katesi Kalange, Nature Invasion 1, Kla Art Festival 2021, Spearhotors House, Jinja Road.
What is the current focus of your creative practice?
My work draws from African indigenous wisdom, weaving together sculpture, architecture, research, installation and performance art. In today's swiftly changing world, where modernity often overshadows traditional wisdom, our existence confronts unparalleled challenges. My work archives ancestral knowledge by interrogating the profound interconnectedness our predecessors shared with the environment. My creations invite contemplation on unlearning prevailing views that treat nature as mere exploitable resources and seek reverence for all life forms by echoing indigenous knowledge.
My practice aligns with Goal 7 of the African Union's Agenda 2063, which emphasizes fostering environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient economies and communities. Additionally, it aligns with Goal 1, which aims to achieve a high standard of living, quality of life, and well-being for all citizens. By connecting these goals to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals 13 and 11, my practice contributes to global efforts for climate action and the development of sustainable cities and communities.
Communities interacting with a recent iteration of Nature Invasion.
What drew you to apply for this residency and how do you think it will inform your wider practice?
I found inspiration to apply for this residency as a pivotal step in expanding my artistic career beyond its current boundaries. Understanding the invaluable role of residencies in artistic development, I actively sought out spaces offering supportive and mentorship-driven environments. G.A.S. stood out for its reputation for providing exceptional support to artists. During my research, I also became acquainted with the work of Yinka Shonibare, whose artistic vision resonates deeply with artists worldwide, myself included. Learning about his philanthropic efforts in establishing G.A.S in Nigeria further fueled my desire to one day benefit from the enriching environment cultivated by this esteemed institution.
The Cry of Maama Butonde, performance. KLA Art Festival 2021.
Can you give us an insight into how you hope to use the opportunity?
I'm thrilled to dedicate myself to exploring innovative upcycling practices. This uninterrupted time allows me to experiment with unconventional materials like single-use plastics and second-hand clothes, pushing the boundaries of my art while collaborating with the local community. Through workshops and presentations, I aim to share my knowledge, draw inspiration from Nigerian culture, and ultimately create versatile upcycled tiles that might incorporate local design elements.
I'm also eager to advance my ongoing research initiated during my residency at Nubuke Foundation in Ghana last year. I plan to delve deeper into the potential of upcycling fossil-based polymers such as second-hand clothes and single-use plastic into versatile tiles. These tiles can serve various functions, including construction, interior or exterior decoration and even as canvases for my visual artwork. I'm particularly excited to possibly incorporate imagery/designs inspired by the Nigerian artisanal community and culture onto these tiles. Additionally, I'm looking forward to sourcing household items like decorative furniture or tabletops to further expand the scope of my creative endeavours.
RESIDENCY ARCHIVE
EVENT: Community Cleaning Drive
Event Date: 7th May 2024
Guided by insights from local artist, community organiser, and collaborator, Peter D. Abayomi, a native of the Bariga community, she facilitated a community cleaning drive that began with a mini-workshop with 15 enthusiastic young adults from the Bariga community. The participants, guided by Katesi, were invited to collectively rethink the lens through which they viewed materiality in relation to their immediate environment. Like many urban areas in Lagos, Bariga grapples with challenges in waste management. Sprawling from atop a designated landfill, the community contends with a steady influx of non-biodegradable waste, such as single-use plastics, second-hand clothes, hair extensions, flip flops and electronic waste, amongst others.
Katesi Kalange's initial workshop with members of the Bariga community during her Community Cleaning Drive
EVENT: METAmorphosis
Event Date: 20th June 2024
METAmorphosis concluded Katesi Kalange's 10-week residency and acted as a forum for her to synthesise her research and experiential observations, and share them with G.A.S. Foundation's community in Lagos. The title is representative of the transformation that is inherent in her practice and illustrates her commitment to reconceptualising waste materials into new forms. In her opening presentation, Katesi provided a comprehensive overview of her residency and discussed the challenges she encountered, alongside the strategies she employed to address them. She was also able to detail her production methodologies and acknowledged the collaborative efforts that underpinned the project. To complement her presentation, a panel of project collaborators joined Katesi in conversation. They included environmental advocate Peter D. Abayomi, ceramicists Ato Arinze and Afeez Azeez, a chemical engineer at BASF Boluwatito Aiyepola and Rafiat Kikelomo Bashiru, who leads operations at Wecyclers.
METAmorphosis panellists. L-R: Adeoti Azeez Afeez, Katesi Kalange, Peter D. Abayomi, Ato Arinze, Rafiat Kikelomo Bashiru, and Boluwatito Aiyepola.
EVENT: METAmorphosis
Event Date: 22nd June 2024
To conclude a collaboration with Peter Abayomi of Eran Jije Project initiated on arrival in Lagos, Katesi Kalange returned to Bariga to share the outputs of her residency with the local residents some of whom had been instrumental in helping her shape her residency project. Shortly after arriving in the city, Katesi conducted a community cleaning drive in the Isale-Akoka area of Bariga that was followed by in-depth material research, experimentation, and collaboration with artisans and recycling organisations in Lagos and beyond.
Katesi Kalange's concluding workshop with members of the Bariga community.
RESIDENCY REPORT
During her residency at G.A.S. Lagos, supported by the Tilga Art Fund, Ugandan artist Katesi Kalange explored integrating non-biodegradable materials into urban architecture. She led a community cleaning drive in Bariga, Lagos, working with local artist Peter D. Abayomi to collect waste for artistic experimentation. Katesi repurposed 50 kilograms of waste into floor tile prototypes, collaborating with local sculptors and recycling companies WeCyclers and BASF. Her residency culminated in a panel discussion, METAmorphosis, where she and her collaborators shared insights on sustainable art practices.
Katesi sculpting tile prototypes in clay.
ABOUT KATESI JAQUELINE KALANGE
KATESI JAQUELINE KALANGE is a process-focused visual artist from Uganda. A master’s degree holder in Art and Industrial Design from Kyambogo University, Kalange's work weaves together sculpture, architecture, research, installation and performance art. Drawing from African indigenous wisdom, she is fascinated by its historical role in nurturing harmonious coexistence among humans and other beings within shared ecosystems.
Her work has shown in exhibitions such as: Kla Art Festival 2021 in Uganda, Pink Flame exhibition at the village market, Kenya in 2022, Silent Invasions, Amasaka gallery, Uganda in 2023, etc. She received the Prince Claus Mentorship Award in 2021, emerged as the second alternate in the inaugural El Anatsui Fellowship 2023, and was a participant in the inaugural Venice Architecture Biennale College 2023. She was a recipient of the Tilga Art Fund in 2023, and undertook a residency at G.A.S. Foundation as a result of the award.
Katesi Kalange's residency was generously supported by the Tilga Art Fund.
