A group comprised of artistes, designers, scientists and innovators have collaborated to explore local visions of how humans might live in a nomadic future across East Africa.
In readiness for the imagined eventuality, they have designed wearables that will enable humans to survive the imagined age, an initiative that has also seen them launch the Nairobi Space Station.
The eight members of the Nairobi Space Station, a community-driven initiative involving youths from Nairobi slums developed wearable designs and art pieces that respond to these future scenarios as they imagined a future where people will move freely across East Africa, whether by choice or necessity. They imagined a future where people will move freely across East Africa, whether by choice or necessity. [Nairobi Space Station]
The project christened 'Nomadic Futures' is the latest project of the Nairobi Space Station, an initiative by Kairos Futura - an organisation focused on creative exchange, innovation, and social impact, that was founded in 2021.
Through a series of workshops and explorations in Nairobi, the team - whose members come from diverse backgrounds and are passionate about exploring the intersection of art, design, and ecology - explored Nairobi's streets and neighbourhoods, seeking inspiration from the city's vibrant culture and diverse communities.
They also participated in workshops that focused on prototyping, designing, and creating wearable designs and art pieces that respond to the future of nomadic living.
"We wanted to challenge ourselves to think about what life might look like in a nomadic future, and how we can use art and design to respond to that future," says Angela Cauri, a Nairobi Space Station member.
"We explored utopic and dystopic scenarios to understand the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, and developed wearable designs and art pieces that respond to those scenarios."
The wearable designs and art pieces developed by the Nairobi Space Station members will be exhibited as part of an immersive Nomadic Futures evening, at The McMillan Memorial Library, in Nairobi, tomorrow.
The event aims to exhibit the innovative ideas and solutions developed by the Kairos members and draw viewers into an exciting world-building experience.
The Nairobi Space Station initiative is in response to the destruction of Nairobi's ecosystem due to human activities such as deforestation and pollution.
The initiative has several environmental projects that are being initiated in some Nairobi informal settlements, among them Mathare and Mukuru.
In Mathare, a settlement with close to 250,000 people living with no trees or green spaces, Kairos Futura is planning to plant 2,000 trees as part of Stoneface Bombaa's Future Tree Ritual.
The event slated for April 22 seeks to provide community green spaces so people have a place to gather.
smuendo@standardmedia.co.ke
