Nnena Kalu
Nnena Kalu
19 April - 26 May 2018
Nnena Kalu is an artist working with ActionSpace, a London based visual arts organisation that supports artists with learning disabilities. To create her work, she binds and layers materials to create large, colourful structures that wrap themselves around the gallery, reacting to the size, shape and environment of each new setting. An array of different colours and textures adorn her wrapped installations and they grow from a small curious object in the space, into a large, immersive presence which transforms the gallery into a vessel for these organic forms to inhabit. Kalu was in residence with Project Ability during the first week of the Glasgow International festival, where visitors were able to witness the artist’s creative process. Watching her work is a mesmerising experience.
‘Nnena’s work is great, impressive in scale and variety.’
‘Really love this work – love the energy, the colour, the joy, the skill and the execution. Made my day!’
GI opening night, Thursday 19 April ‘This is one of the best exhibitions in G.I. I love Nnena’s work, I’m really excited to see what she makes in the future. Congratulations!’ ‘Really enjoyed your work. So original and impactful.’ ‘Amazing show! So much energy in this space. The smell of tape is overwhelming and incredible!’
‘Really emotional watching growth and development of the pieces. At first I felt entanglement, binding, containing. As the time went on I felt very emotional, lots of welling. Very deep, thank you for this.’
‘I found the repetition of movement soothing to watch. The use of materials is clever and colour is fun!’ ‘Reminds me a bit of Louise Bourgeois and also Judith Scott. It’s wonderful! So much creative energy, and it must be super satisfying for the artist to work in this way. LOVE!!’ ‘Brilliant! I love the presence and colour of the forms! Thank you.’ ‘The energy is still here – tape crackles occasionally, colours spin in front of your eyes. I wish I could sit and soak it up for hours.’
‘Uplifting, a total sensation of energy, love, fun and happiness. A perfect start to my 2 day GI 2018, thank you Nnena.’
Thanks: many thanks to Nnena Kalu, ActionSpace, Charlotte Hollinshead, Sheryll Catto, Barbara van Heel, Joan Allen-St. Hill, the Project Ability team, Creative Scotland, Glasgow Life, Glasgow International and The Foyle Foundation. Photography: Charlotte Hollinshead & Berengere Chabanis Exhibitions Coordinator: Heather Lander Technician & wooden structures: JR Ewen Design: Berengere Chabanis Copyright Project Ability 2018 Project Ability Trongate 103, Glasgow, G1 5HD Scotland +44 (0)141 552 2822 info@project-ability.co.uk www.project-ability.co.uk Scottish Charity No:SC005226