Nnena Kalu
b. 1966
Portrait of Nnena Kalu
Nnena Kalu is a prolific, professional artist working from ActionSpace’s supported studio in Studio Voltaire since 1999. Over two decades Nnena has created a vast body of sculptural and 2D artworks and developed a live, performative element to her art practice, creating site-specific sculptural works for live installations.
Nnena is driven by an instinctive urge to build repeated marks and forms, creating intensely layered, visually impactful artworks with dense colours and compacted, flowing lines. For her vortex style drawings Nnena works systematically across two drawings a day, creating them as a pair. The drawings, developed in unison, are an echo - caught in an echo loop of pure form and physical action. The whole process becomes immersive as Nnena responds to the rhythm, noise and physical experience of creating, which determines the shape, style and nature of each piece.
Since 2010 Nnena has also created a vast number of sculptural forms of varying sizes; from collections of small, tightly constructed pods and cocoons to large, complex installations, consuming whole rooms. The act of creation is pivotal to Nnena when binding these forms. The frequently ephemeral nature of her work adds to its beauty as it lives in the moment.
BSL / About the Artist
Interpreted by Deaf artist Rebecca Vaughan
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Subtitled Film
BSL Film
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ActionSpace is London’s leading development agency for artists with learning disabilities. They are an exceptional visual arts organisation with big ambitions for all the artists that they work with. They support, advocate and promote diversity within the contemporary visual arts sector. All of their work is focused towards enabling artists with learning disabilities to have a professional career in the arts.