Triangle Workshop: Kuona Trust, Kenya, 1997
6:51 pm in Triangle Network, Workshops and Residencies by DandaJaroljmek
The first Wasanii International Workshop in Kenya took place at Elsamere Field Studies Centre on the shores of Lake Naivasha in 1997. The workshop was organised by the first Kenyan artists to attend Triangle workshops elsewhere and together they formed the working group to set up Wasanii for the first time. The group, supported by Kuona Trust, included painters Sane Wadu and Theresa Musoke and sculptors Elijah Ogira and Omega Ludenyi.
Nearly every year since the first workshop, Wasanii workshops have taken place, based at either Elsamere or on the island of Lamu, alongside local workshops.
Kuona Trust has been part of the Triangle Network since its inception in 1995. It has followed the model for workshops and residencies, adapting the workshop idea to encourage local artists in particular to experiment with new art practices. Urban Wasanii in Mombasa was a public based workshop, Art in the Forest in Ngong forest, seriously challenged artists to work with found materials and to relate to the context of being in a conservation sanctuary and was probably one of our best workshops. Certainly the best open day, with over 1000 members of the public.
Access to information and contacts has been the most useful part of the network and the long standing artist connections, with some Kenyan artists still regularly communicating with artists they met over 15 years ago during international exchange.
Since 2001, I worked on the digital network for the Triangle African Network, visiting art spaces and workshops, helping set up websites, e-newsletters, sharing opportunities, suggesting events etc. The increase in applications from artists connected to sister organisations such as Insaka, Partage, Greatmore etc., was dramatic as information became more accessible. There is nothing better though than having a chance to meet face to face occasionally to strengthen the bonds, so I am excited about the conference and the chance to meet so many interesting people.
Hi Danda,
Great to see you here!
That’s great you’re attending the conference- we look forward to hearing all about it when we see you on the 10th!
Best wishes,
Rocca