Cultivating Rhythms of Care | MAKERERE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH (MISR) LIBRARY
By Birungi Kawooya & Rebecca Khamala
Cultivating Rhythms of Care encourages returning to harmony with nature and eco feminist practices, as our internal rhythms fundamentally point us to living that way. By creating a stimulating environment for knowledge sharing, the exhibition asks you to add to the care instructions Njabala receives in the Njabala folklore.
Birungi Kawooya researches ways of being well in community, inspired by nature, Black feminisms and Afro somatic movement. She creates using sculpture, natural fibers and batik indigenous to Uganda. Her works celebrate Black womanhood, elevating rest, joy and well-being. Reflecting on how Black women are pivotal in leading social justice movements, she compels Black womxn to protect their dreamspace with the “Sisters Need Sleep” collection.
Birungi has a strong collaborative art practice and makes artwork informed by community engagement to stimulate imagining liberation. She was commissioned by The World Reimagined and Kensington and Chelsea Art Week to lead community workshops to inform designs for a 1.9m globe sculpture and 25m long mural. Most recently she has researched and supported the production of a free-form collaborative quilt which archives the healing wisdom of the community of Walworth, who are experiencing social cleansing and trauma. The project: “Weaving Interdependence” supported all ages, abilities and all expressions to share wellbeing.
With the support of Njabala Foundation, 32° East and the Arts Council England, Birungi explored natural fibers during her 5-month residency in Uganda 2022-23. The resulting collection portrays themes of trauma resolution, time travel, well-being and sculptural installations inviting womxn to rest. She has exhibited with: The New Art Gallery Walsall, The Portico Library, the Hastings Contemporary, The World Reimagined, Hammersmith BID, Mediacom, The Collective Makers, CasildeArt, Black Women Art Network, Simply Gorgeous salon.
