In May 2023 Yinka Shonibare Foundation and Guest Artists Space Foundation announced a new collaborative open call with Tilga Art Fund, a philanthropic initiative launched by Wally Bakare to foster criticality, broaden artistic practice and engage new and exciting modes of art-making among young contemporary African artists.
This year’s edition of the prize was targeted at young artists across all creative disciplines working and living in Uganda, or of Ugandan descent. Following a busy application period, a judging panel comprised of artist and professor Amanda Tumusiime, artist Lutaaya Michael, artist, curator and G.A.S. Director Temitayo Ogunbiyi, Y.S.F. CEO Belinda Holden, and artist and lecturer Luganzu Bruno selected the four finalists: Katesi Kalange, Arinitwe Peter, Florence Nanteza and Martin Senkubuge each of whom received a grant of $2,000 to support their practice.
The first piece developed as part of Katesi's Nature Invasion project.
For the first time, the Tilga Art Fund also offered a grand prize of an all-expenses paid residency at Guest Artists Space Foundation and we’re excited to announce that it was awarded to Kampala-based multidisciplinary artist Katesi Kalange. Katesi’s practice lies at the intersection of painting, sculpture, performance, and installation bound together by the consistent use of a multitude of sustainable and upcycling production techniques. Katesi’s preoccupation with addressing social issues and the climate emergency are perhaps most prevalent in an ongoing work titled Nature Invasion. In this participatory and socially engaged project, she collaborates with local communities through a series of artistic workshops which are used as a tool to advocate for climate action.
Communities interacting with a recent iteration of Nature Invasion.
The sustainability threads that are central to Kalange’s practice are also embedded in the mission of the Foundation and we’re excited to see how her experience in Nigeria will shape her practice. She comments on the opportunity: “I hope to use the residency to continue with studio experimentation as well as broaden the lens through which I have been collaborating with communities, and more so now within the different geographical context of Nigeria. I look forward to using the period to share as well as learn from other creatives and the community to hopefully spark off both internal and external discourse around how we co-exist with other beings in the same ecosystem.”
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the judges and all those who took the time to apply for the Tilga Art Fund and to congratulate all the shortlisted artists, the winners, and our forthcoming resident Katesi Kalange.
The Tilga Art Fund 2023 has been delivered by Tilga Fund for the Arts, Yinka Shonibare Foundation, Guest Artists Space Foundation, Global Livingston Institute and Reach a Hand Foundation. All images courtesy of the artist.