The roughly formed unique figures once again integrates Babirye's cultural heritage and sexuality into her work with the intent of referencing the figures as both members of the royal guard, as well as her queer community. The figures are splattered or dripped with ceramic glazes, playing with techniques of the medium and aiming to ultimately imagine a new society, and encourage the evaluation of traditional values and systems of British Colonialism in Uganda.
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The body of work demonstrates Babirye’s interest in her culture, sexuality, and also the environment and found materials.Ībambowa (Royal Guard Who Protects the King), 2021 īabirye’s ceramic series of twenty-two heads exemplifies the King’s Royal Guard.
Babirye aspires to represent her community of queer people, and the male clan names imparted on her works take on further significance when they depict commonly female-associated attributes namely hair, jewelry or lipstick. Alongside Nansamba II, Babirye’s series includes Nakawaddwa from the Kuchu Ngabu (Antelope) Clan, 2021, and Abambowa (Royal Guard Who Protects the King), 2021, all which are intentionally ambiguous, and with no assigned gender to her any of her faces. Babirye often works with found materials, demonstrating that something believed to be waste, still has a use and is valuable. The ceramic face is erected from tubes of a bicycle tire, hardware, and glazing, as a commentary on the name given to a gay person in Luganda, ‘ebisiyaga’, meaning rubbish. Nansamba II from the Kuchu Ngabi (Antelope) Clan, 2021 īabirye’s sculpture titled Nansamba II from the Kuchu Ngabi (Antelope) Clan is another multimedia large-scale work. Although, ultimately, her work is open to interpretation and communication, specifically through the emotion of the faces and masks Babirye creates. While being the first deadline piece Babirye has worked on, her process changed very little, still composing meaning and form as she went. Commissioned by Hedi Slimane for Celine’s Art Project, and based on a given reference, Babirye took on new challenges for this made-to-order sculpture. The totem-inspired piece explores identity, and how the queer community continues to exist and hold their clan names despite being disowned or unaccepted for who they are. Named after a Ugandan clan, Babirye evokes the history of her culture through the clan names given to the people of Uganda. Major Works Najunga From the Kuchu Ngaali (Crested Crane) Clan, 2021 īabirye utilizes wood, ceramic, metal and found materials and often represents African masks, influenced by her culture and sexuality. Babirye supports the Kakuma refugee camp in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as working alongside the African Service Committee to advocate and assist LGBTQIA+ asylum-seeking people. She continues to represent and avocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as representing her Ugandan culture and queer identity. īabirye still resides and works in Brooklyn, New York today. Gordon was interested in Babirye’s work and wanted to exhibit her art at his gallery, however, Babirye had only been drawing and painting so Gordon gave her his backyard as a space for her to work. After her residency at Fire Island, Babirye was connected with Sam Gordon, the owner of Gordon Robichaux gallery. In 2018, Babirye applied for and received asylum in the United States with aid from the African Services Committee, the New York City Anti-Violence Project, and the African Human Rights Coalition who specialize in representing LGBTQIA+ refugees. These events led Babirye to apply to artist residencies in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the United States, the latter accepting her application for a residency at Fire Island, a notorious gay holiday destination. In 2015, Babirye was publicly outed in Uganda’s press, was denied supervision from her tutors during her Master’s at Makerere University due to her sexuality, and was disowned from her family. Babirye identifies as a lesbian woman, where her sexual orientation caused her to face discrimination and public humiliation as it is considered illegal to be openly homosexual in Uganda. 3.3 Ugandan and Bugandan Kingdom’s Historyīabirye was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda and attended Makerere University in Kampala from 2007 to 2010 where she studied art.3.2 Found Material and LGBTQIA+ Reclamation.2.4 Nakawaddwa from the Kuchu Ngabi (Antelope) Clan, 2021.2.3 Abambowa (Royal Guard Who Protects the King), 2021.2.2 Nansamba II from the Kuchu Ngabi (Antelope) Clan, 2021.2.1 Najunga From the Kuchu Ngaali (Crested Crane) Clan, 2021.