Four weeks into her residency program at GAS Foundation, Katesi Kalange has delved into extensive reading and research on the potential of recycling non-biodegradable materials like single-use plastics and second-hand clothes. Drawing inspiration from Nigeria's vernacular architecture, She embarked on a journey to merge sustainability with cultural influences. Last week marked a pivotal moment as she transitioned from theoretical exploration to practical fieldwork.

A Gathering on Art and Land is a day centring art and design-led approaches to planting, farming, seeding, gardening and burying. Through conversations and presentations, the event explores our relationship to the land, using ground and soil practices to start ecological conversations and reveal their potential for transformation, regeneration, and hope. The programme includes a talk with Yinka Shonibare CBE RA who will discuss his exhibition Suspended States and his ongoing commitment to environmentalism and interdisciplinary exchange in his practice. This will be followed by G.A.S. residency alumni and RCA BLK members Remi Kuforiji and Graeme Smith, in conversation with Yinka Shonibare Foundation CEO Belinda Holden.

To conclude a collaboration with Peter Abayomi of Eran Jije Project initiated on arrival in Lagos, Katesi Kalange returned to Bariga to share the outputs of her residency with the local residents some of whom had been instrumental in helping her shape her residency project. Shortly after arriving in the city, Katesi conducted a community cleaning drive in the Isale-Akoka area of Bariga that was followed by in-depth material research, experimentation, and collaboration with artisans and recycling organisations in Lagos and beyond.

Annotations is a six-month project that explores major African cultural festivals and their dual nature as historic events and repositories of postcolonial pan-African encounters. Led by co-curators Naima Hassan (Interim Picton Archivist) and Maryam Kazeem (iranti press), Annotations will explore the entangled histories of FESMAN, Panaf, Zaire 74, and FESTAC’77 through a pedagogical programme, residency and publication. To coincide with the launch of Annotation, we spoke to curators Naima and Maryam to uncover their collaborative journey and delve into how their shared interests and individual initiatives converged to shape the curatorial vision for the project.