The third installation of the State of The Art, (SOTA) exhibition has officially been launched in Nairobi. State of the Art is a joint initiative between the Goethe-Institut and BlackRhino VR set out to strengthen the creative economy in different sectors in Kenya by encouraging the use of immersive technologies in creation and delivery of content.
The third installation, dubbed Darubini (Telescope) will run for the entire month of November and will showcase works by six visual artists. The six artists were part of this year’s cohort under the wider theme of how technology can enable us take a reflective look at different aspects of our lives.
Darubini is the third successful instalment, this is after “NOMA” and “USONI” were launched in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
The Project Coordinator of Goethe’s JENGA CCI, Maria Bauer said, “From the first instalment “NOMA” (2020) to “USONI” (2021), we have finally arrived at ‘DARUBINI’ which offers us a lens into ourselves through immersive technology. Through this project, we have equipped young creatives with skills to enter their individual XR (eXtended Reality) journey and extend their creative freedom and expression without boundaries in the virtual world,”
State Of The Art Exhibition Venue
The exhibition will be at the OUT Reality, XR Lab, and Exhibition space at The Mall, Westlands and is scheduled to run from November 5 to 27.
An estimated 800 people are expected to participate in the exhibition which is a culmination of a three months training program for creatives to upskill and build their capacity through the use of different tools in VR and AR.
The training also included soft skills development which was conducted by Lantern Training.
Communications and Community manager at BlackRhino VR Shamina Rajab said that they are continuing to equip the youth in Kenya and Africa with the necessary VR and AR tools to be storytellers of the future.
“We have managed to interact and empower a group of young digital artists both economically and creatively,” she said. She also added that VR and AR technologies are more than gaming and entertainment.
“The future of Africa is being presented with unique opportunities that it can harness to shape its future and that of the world.”
Creatives showcasing their artwork
1. AdamYawe
Adam Yawe is a 3D artist and Product Designer. He runs a skateboarding inspired fashion brand called Zamani Skateboards and is passionate about exploring material culture.
Have a look at his work here.
2. Leezie
Leezie is a traditional painter, graphic designer and 3D artist based in Nairobi. Her painting styles are; cubism, expressionism and 3D artworks which she expresses on canvas and Tilt Brush, respectively.
Have a look at her work here.
3. Husna Ismail
Husna is a multidisciplinary designer, and illustrator based in Nairobi, Kenya. Being a multifaceted artist has allowed her to work with both traditional and digital media.
Have a look at her work here.
4. Angela Cauri
Angela Cauri is a Visual Artist and Architectural Designer pursuing the space of Creative Technology. As an artist, she recognizes a duty to reflect on the times in which we are living.
Have a look at her work here.
5. Gavin
Gavin Kendo is a visual artist based in Nairobi, Kenya. His work so far is heavily based on personal experiences. He tries to portray his own mental state and emotions through a psychedelic lens, by using colour and composition, to add to his storytelling.
Have a look at his work here.
6. John Maronga
John Maronga is a freelance self-taught 2D illustrator. He’s a multidisciplinary artist and has worked on various projects such as animation, book illustrations, character design, portraiture and graphic design.
He draws inspiration from old master paintings and movie cinematography.
Have a look at his work here.
