On May 2, 2023, the Arnold Bode Prize 2022 was ceremoniously awarded to documenta 15 lumbung member Wajukuu Art Project at the Brüderkirche Kassel. In Ann Mbuti’s laudation, she particularly emphasized the community-oriented artistic practice of the artist*s collective from Nairobi:
“At the beginning of the curatorial concept of the past documenta (…) was a rethinking. The lumbung principle aimed not to make the participating collectives contribute something to the world-renowned art show, but to support them in their work and to show the fruits of it in Kassel (…). Instead of asking what the individual actors, the artists, collectives and creative communities can do for documenta, the question was: What can documenta do for these actors? Exactly this change of perspective also happens in the Wajukuu Art Project with regard to art itself: No discourse, no “l’art pour l’art” thinking determines its activities, but the will to change something in the reality of life in Mukuru - with the help of art. Wajukuu does not ask what the collective can do for the discourse, for art, but asks what can art do for its community? Wajukuu puts artistic practice at the beginning of a new vision for their community.”
Accompanying the award ceremony, a presentation curated by Andrea Linnenkohl featuring works by Wajukuu will be on view through May 4 from 11 am to 6 pm at the Brüderkirche (Steinweg/Renthof). The works are available through Lumbung Gallery.
