It Resonates : Nine Artists From across Africa examined through the lens of 'Resonance'

14 September - 4 October 2025
Overview
It Resonates , Nine Artists From across Africa examined through the lens of 'Resonance'
'Art is symbolic of a people culture and civilization evolving and coexisting within an environment constantly faced with climatic change'
– Sanaa Gateja
"It Resonates"  features nine artists from five African countries . The exhibition explores the notion of "resonance" , as proposed  by German philosopher Hartmut Rosa in his eponymous publication,  and considers how the works presented engage in this idea  in the context of Climate Change and environmental degradation.
 
 Originally conceived by 50 GOLBORNE in collaboration with NBST, the team behind the sustainable development of the  Ngara  Creative District in Nairobi- "It Resonates" was first presented  as a private event during the TED Global Countdown Summit (TED’s Climate initiative ) held in Nairobion  June 25.   It is now  being launched for a broader audience, and marks  50 GOLBORNE's first steps toward n fostering  a trans-African artistic dialogue in Nairobi.  
 
Despite Africa being the least polluting continent on earth, it remians  the most impacted by environmental crises. Yet the  artists in " It Resonates"  do not directly depict the alarming changes happening in the natural environment. In am era where these changes are icreasingly visible, their focus lies instead  on the transforming relationship between earth and humanity, one in which both parties are mutually affected and respond.
 
As  Rosa defines it, "resonance" presupposes the errasure of  hierarchy between  humans and the planet. This idea runs through  the exhibition where a dialogue is established between both- enriched by notions of spirituality, transcendence,  commonality, community, heritage, and memory.  
Works
Installation Views
Press release

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

London- based 50 GOLBORNE’s Art Exhibition “It Resonates” has opened in Ngara Road’s   Creative District, Nairobi

 

Opening preview: Sunday 14th September 2pm-7pm

Exhibition open to public from Thursday-Sunday 2pm-6pm

Until October 4th

Ngara Road Heltz  House, Nairobi

Press visits on appointment- email: info@50golborneart.com

 

‘It resonates” features work by nine visual artists from across the African Continent. The Exhibition explores how issues related to climate change and the degradation of the environment subtly infuse their work. Originally shown privately during the TED Countdown (Climate) Global Summit in Nairobi in June 2025, the Exhibition is now open to the public in Nairobi's  developing Creative District near the Sarakasi Dome in Ngara Road.

 

About 50 GOLBORNE

 

This is the first exhibition in Kenya by the London-based gallery 50 GOLBORNE. The gallery, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has been instrumental in developing the careers of artists of African origin globally, placing their work in international Art institutions- such as the Brooklyn Museum, M.A.D  New York, the Chicago Museum of Art or the Chazen Museum of Art in the US, France’s FRACs , V&A Museum, Manchester Art Gallery in the UK,  as well as in important private collections.

 

“We look at African Contemporary Art  beyond country borders, and support artists from the early stages of their careers” says  founder Pascale Revert. "We like to select projects that are highly original, and that contribute to seeding the global art market with new, stimulating ideas, wherever they come from - Dakar, London, Kampala, Tangier, Paris,  Lagos or Nairobi.” says Revert. “Exhibiting in Nairobi is to encourage a trans- Africa artistic dialogue.”

 

The gallery will be exhibiting at 1-54 London in a month, an Art Fair it has been presenting at regularly, as well as in 1-54 New York. 

 

The Exhibition could not have been presented without the collaboration of local cultural ventures  The Station and Liminal Space, whom 50 GOLBORNE thanks profusely.

 

 

Exhibiting in the Ngara Road Creative District, Nairobi

 

Exhibiting in Nairobi for the first time is an important step for 50 GOLBORNE  in engaging directly in a trans- Africa dialogue. "Our gallery recognises Nairobi’s global relevance and Kenya's already developing potential as a leading model green country in an African and global context," observes Revert . (For example, in Kenya over 80% of electricity generated comes from zero carbon sources.)“ It is important for the gallery to exhibit in meaningful places” continues  founder Revert. “We fell in love with Nairobi’s Ngara Road Creative District’s mission to redevelop a central area of the city with a major focus on sustainable development, and to develop a hub for the creative industries. We are very pleased to be curating our presentation in Heltz house.”

 

 

“It Resonates”

 

Although Africa is the world’s least polluting continent it is among the most affected by the impact of climate change and environmental degradation. The Exhibition draws on the concept of “resonance” identified by German philosopher Hartmut Rosa -the charged interplay where self and world affect one another. As Ugandan artist Sanaa Gateja remarked at the opening of the Exhibition (where his work is one of the  highlights), "the work of artists brings together culture, creativity and community." These works are not images of catastrophe, but the artists’ explorations of connection and transformation that foster various forms of resilience.

 

 

Artists exhibited:

 

CHEMU NG’OK (Kenya)

COLLIN SEKAJUGO (Uganda, Rwanda)

EMO DE MEDEIROS (Benin, France)

JOSEPH NTENSIBE (Uganda)

JOSEPH KAMARU (Kenya)

SAFAA ERRUAS  ( Morocco)

SANAA GATEJA (Uganda)

MARTIN JAKAILA (Kenya)

TEMANDROTA (Madagascar)

 

 

For more information:

Email: info@50golbporneart.com| WhatsApp: +4477771816145

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