View this post on Instagram A post shared by Birungi Kawooya (@birungiart) Cultivating Rhythms of Care by Birungi Kawooya and Rebecca Khamala Cultivating Rhythms of Care: Installation Cultivating Rhythms of Care is a biophilic installation curated to reflect on the monthly cycle of a woman in relationship to the seasons in nature, supported by a soundscape. It is ordered in three layers that follow the concentric form of the MISR library pavillion. It comprises a woven wall that encloses the space, a veil partition that guides movement through the space, a food and plant display along with questions to initiate conversations and knowledge on local foods, what we learn fro the story of Njabala, and how we can care for our bodies throughout the menstrual cycle. Rebecca weaves an envelope with 100% unwaxed cotton yarn, a variety of plants and plant fibers (including papyrus, shredded papyrus (obukeedo by’otutoogo), trimmed papyrus plants, palm leaves (nsansa), enjulu, trimmed bamboo plants, and dry bamboo leaves) in a continuous loom created with the MISR library pavillion columns. She orders these plants and fibers to create movements that express the essence of the seasons as observed in cultivation, in the menstrual cycle, and in the day as captured in the soundscape. Birungi works with banana fiber on clay-dyed bark cloth to depict a crescent moon — that speaks to the link of the menstrual cycle to the movement of the moon —and “Njabala” sleeping during here menstrual period, surrounded by a variety of nutritious organic food. She also creates through an experimental weaving of braided sisal rope, raffia and bark cloth, expressions of the rains and their disrupted patterns, the sun rising through the day, the lushness of growing yam and potatoes, and finally the sun setting. Cultivating Rhythms of Care: Soundscape The soundscape is six minute forty one seconds (6:41) piece of music that uses the Njabala folk song to create an acoustic environment curated to capture the rhythm of a typical day, using sounds from the natural soundscape to reflect the atmospheric qualities of the different times of day, in relation to the aura of seasons on a macro level. The musical composition features the akogo, flute, guitar, tube fiddle, and vocals, arranged to mirror the emotional landscape of a typical menstrual cycle. Credits: Music Direction by Rebecca Khamala and Birungi Kawooya Music Production by Dustville Records Music Composition by Isaac Kalema Akogo, Flute, Guitar, Tube Fiddle & Vocals performed by Aliddeki Brian Artist Biographies Rebecca Khamala Rebecca Khamala is a multidisciplinary designer with a background in architecture, an artist, and a writer. Her work is centered around her curiosities which are often driven by a fascination for people, culture, and the environment. Rebecca’s practice revolves around working in harmony with the natural environment and exploring local materials and technologies. She researches traditional crafts through collaborating with local artisans and thereafter adapting them to contemporary design. She enjoys creating works that are uplifting and inspiring, works that are rooted in problem solving, while telling stories (in whatever form) that are true to people and their context. In her “Living On” installation, has explored the expression of emotion in the movement of natural fibres through weaving, while observing their own organic rhythmic patterns and the sound that they visually and acoustically produce. The “Living On” installation she made in 2023 during her residency at 32° East was an exploration of grief as well as weaving with plants and plant fibres. The work helped her honour her pain and allowed her to create an experiential space that held her and invited others to have a sensory interaction with the plant fibres Rebecca is thrilled about the multifacetedness of plant materials and is curious as to how these fibres can be ordered to create movements that reflect the rhythms in nature and in the curated soundscape, and the kind of visual and acoustic atmosphere they could manifest in turn, with the hope of creating dynamic spaces that facilitate both human and environmental healing. Email: khamalabecca@gmail.com Instagram: the.name.is.kara Birungi Kawooya 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. Website: https://www.birungikawooyaart.com/ Email: hello@birungikawooyaart.com Instagram: @birungiart
