In the new installation Kiteezi by Ugandan artist Nabukenya Allen, rubbish becomes a language of renewal. The starting point for this is a devastating landslide at the Kiteezi landfill, the most important waste disposal facility in the city of Kampala.
In August 2024, the Kiteezi landfill collapsed in a devastating landslide. Houses in the surrounding area were destroyed, and many people lost their lives. Yet, out of this tragedy, a story of solidarity and resilience began to unfold. In particular, Boda-Boda riders – Kampala’s often marginalised motorbike taxi drivers – emerged as unexpected symbols of hope.
In her exhibition Kiteezi, the artist Njola explores this transformative moment. She recognises the potential of Boda-Boda drivers to shed light on how we deal with waste. For them, she has designed a unique fashion collection using materials such as old car tyres, plastic bags, packaging, and flip-flops.
By utilising discarded materials from the Kiteezi landfill site and her surroundings, Njola creates new objects and imbues them with new meaning. These objects become powerful markers of identity and environmental awareness. The exhibition thereby reveals how closely environmental destruction, social inequality, and collective power are intertwined.
Kiteezi is also a compelling call to rethink our relationship with waste. Njola uses discarded items not only as material but also to draw attention to global challenges such as over-consumption, wastefulness, and pollution. She shows that what we throw away does not simply disappear. It remains part of a global cycle.
Curated by Stella Asiimwe
Allen Nabukenya, known by her artist name Njola, is a multidisciplinary contemporary artist from Uganda. Her work addresses issues such as environmental awareness, material transformation and collective responsibility. She is an artist in residence at PART International Art Residency Austria, in cooperation with Weltmuseum Wien (KHM-Museumsverband).
My project, “Kiteezi – Kiteezi change, culture change,” poses the question: “Ffa nfe wakasasiro yaani?” (Who are we in the presence of waste?). In my artistic work, I explore the relationship between human life and discarded materials. – Nabukenya Allen alias Njola
Address
Theseustempel
Volksgarten, 1010 Vienna
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Opening times
Daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Free entry
