Europe-Tanzania residency projects in Poland

As part of the Deconfining project, our partners the Art Transparent Foundation (Wrocław, Poland) and Nafasi Art Space (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) have initiated research residencies for artists from Poland and Africa specializing in video art. These residencies aim to foster relationships between artists and cultural practitioners from both regions, encouraging cross-cultural collaboration and understanding. An overview of the residency projects was presented at the Festival Club on Sunday, 23 June, from 3 to 6 p.m.

The artistic explorations

Lindi Dedek (Czech Republic)

Czech artist Lindi Dedek focuses her site-specific artistic research on the mpingo tree, known for its use in Makonde sculpture and natural medicine, among other things. The endangered African blackwood serves as a starting point for Dedek to develop creative methodologies that consider environmental and economic postcolonial perspectives in a sensitive and critical way.

Naitiemu Nyanjom (Kenya)

Kenyan artist Naitiemu Nyanjom examines traditions and rituals, illustrating how elements like dance, music, art, food, and symbolism transcend geographical boundaries. By juxtaposing Polish traditions, ceremonies, food, architecture, and nature with those of African tribes, particularly the Masai, Nyanjom explores the potential for cross-cultural understanding and unity, while celebrating the uniqueness of both cultures.

Jan Moss (Poland)

Since 2018, Polish artist Jan Moss has dedicated his creative efforts to promoting contemporary African culture in Poland and other European countries. Regularly collaborating with the Ugandan label Nyege Nyege Tapes, Moss will work with Tanzanian singeli artists as part of the Deconfining project. He aims to deconstruct harmful stereotypes, demonstrating that perceived cultural and economic differences are often exaggerated and unrealistic.

Kizza Moses (Uganda)

Ugandan-born artist Kizza Moses, known as Teflon, places the egalitarian nature of dance at the core of his work. Inspired by his brother’s story, Teflon collaborates with a dancer on crutches to explore fundamental questions about dance—its right to judgment, social and cultural roles, and its function in everyone’s life.

Michalina Musielak (Poland)

Polish artist Michalina Musielak seeks alternative knowledge production through interaction with local heroines and heroes, artists, and researchers. Her experimental documentary chronicles the construction of a day care center (DCC) in Dakawa, Tanzania, highlighting multi-layered forms of solidarity focusing on the care perspective.

Josephine Kiaga (Tanzania)

Tanzanian artist Josephine Kiaga focuses on menstrual poverty in her project, aiming to bridge the gaps between cultures so that they can come into contact and try to understand each other in new ways. Using metaphorical imagery, Kiaga addresses societal prejudices against people who menstruate, promoting appreciation of both cultural differences and similarities.
By bringing together diverse artistic talents and perspectives, the Europe-Tanzania residency projects in Poland under the Deconfining initiative are breaking down barriers and building bridges between continents, fostering a deeper appreciation for the richness of cultural exchange.

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