In the picture (left to right): Boniface Maina, Option Dzikamai Nyahunzvi, Alexandre Kyungu Mwilambwe, Pamela Enyonu, Ngugi Waweru
Co-produced by Africa First and AKKA Projects, the Africa 1:1 LAB was a unique artist residency project that set up an incubative milieu for 5 young African artists to experience Venice’s prolific art scene as the city got ready for the “Laboratory of the future”, the eagerly anticipated 18th Architecture Biennale curated by Lesley Lokko.
The project culminated with a site-specific exhibition opening at Ca’ Pesaro, Venice’s Modern Art Museum, on the 19th of May. The participating artists, Option Nyahunzvi (b. 1992 Zimbabwe), Pamela Enyonu (b. 1985 Uganda), Alexandre Kyungu (b. 1992 DRC), Boniface Maina (b. 1987 Kenya), and Ngugi Waweru (b. 1987 Kenya), produced works that converse with works from the permanent collection of Ca Pesaro and the architecture of the magnificent edifice on the Grand Canal.
An exhibition of additional, Venice-inspired, works produced during the residency is currently on view at AKKA Projects until May 31st. The Ca Pesaro exhibition remains open until October. Don’t miss them if you’re passing through the magnificent city!
Click here to see the AFRICA 1:1 LAB - Residency outcome
Click here to read the article published on Art Africa, 19 September, 2023