“The Cosmologies of Objects” Think Tank took place from 3 July – 6 July 2024. The accompanying exhibition at the Villa 102 featured artworks developed by Adam Yawe, Élise Fitte-Duval and Karwitha Kirimi during the TALKING OBJECTS ARCHIVE residency programme.

The Think Tank and exhibition were curated by Mahret Ifeoma Kupka and Isabel Raabe.

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As part of the TALKING OBJECTS residency programme (April–July 2024), Adam has created a mesmerising virtual 3D object that draws on a multitude of references. Of particular importance were an incense burner by the influential Senegalese writer Mariama Ba (1929–1981) and a carved seat from the Ashanti Empire (1680–1896; today Ghana) from the collection of the Musée Théodore Monod, Dakar. In his work, Yawe combines these two West African objects with artefacts from contemporary Kenyan everyday culture.

In Yawe's video work Mahindi Choma #1, the three bright yellow corncobs are the first thing that catch the eye. Laid out like incense sticks, they are stuck in a concrete construction whose shape is reminiscent of both the Ashanti seat and the Kenyan water system Inverted Block Drainage (IBD). The digital object evokes the smell of roasted corn, Mahindi Choma, a popular snack of pre-colonial origin. Today omnipresent on Nairobi's streets, corn came to Kenya through transatlantic trade relations and displaced local crops. Using corn as an example, Yawe points to transcultural interdependencies and their effects. With his work, Yawe associatively creates new references and questions when (cultural) exchange becomes appropriation and when creative re-creation is the result.

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Mahindi Choma #1 - Kanga Video collage with Soundtrack (2024)

Credits:

Concepts, Video Editing and 3D Renders: Adam Yawe

3D Printing: 3D Moguls
Soapstone Incense Holder: Michael Manduku

Mtaro Table: Collins Muga

Soundtrack: Vfor5

Videography: Chris Muli

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