In the fall of 2024, the Polish Society for Aesthetics realized planned mobilities to the Kenyatta University in Nairobi, using this possibility to extend the partnerships and collaborations. The main focus was, according to GA, on trainings and workshops.
The team consisting of Prof. Aleksandra Lukaszewicz, Prof. Adrian Kvokacka, Prof. Karina Banaszkiewicz-Sadowska, Dr. Bogna Gladden-Obidzinska, and Prof. Przemyslaw Kisiel delivered ten lectures, three workshops, and two presentations.
Prof. Adrian Kvokacka’s lecture to the students and faculty members from the Visual and Performing Arts departments at Kenyatta University on “The Ambiguity of the Meaning of Art” in which he will delve into traditions of classic aesthetic theory and philosophy of art, delivered on the 18th of September 2024, reflected the keen interest in unraveling the complexities that art embodies. His workshop on the 25th of September 2024 on “Daily humdrum and the need of AR and VR for human beings” explored the intersection of everyday aesthetics with the revolutionary impact of augmented and virtual realities on our daily lives.
Prof. Aleksandra Lukaszewicz’s lecture on “Trajectories of Inspirations. The Relations Between Traditional African Art, Great-Avant-Garde, and Contemporary African Art. Afro-cubism and Afro-futurism” was delivered twice, once at Kenyatta University on the 5th of November 2024 and secondly at its younger kin Pwani University on the 9th of October 2024. She examined how different cultures shape creativity in mutual inspiration encouraging cross-cultural appreciation.
On the 29th of October 2024, while participating in the Cultural Week at Kenyatta University, Prof. Aleksandra Lukaszewicz delivered a presentation on “Ethics for Creative Industry in the Digital Era” and took part in the panel discussion on the Art and Creative Industries in the Digital Era.
She also delivered a lecture and realized a workshop on “Museum’s exhibitions digitalized and born-digital: online and VR” to the students of Pwani University, Kilifi, focused on Art and Design. The lecture presented a historical overview of the development of online digital exhibitions, from simple gallery views to the creation of three-dimensional environments to be experienced through the screen, and to the virtual ways of presentation. The workshop allowed Prof. Aleksandra Lukaszewicz to share a virtual experience in the space of KONKRET AR.T Gallery hosting exhibitions prepared within the CAPHE project.
Prof. Karina Banaszkiewicz-Sadowska delivered a lecture on “Media as Tool for Cultural Change. New Ontographies and Identities” twice, first at Pwani University on the 18th of October 2024, and second time at Kenyatta University on the 13th of November 2024. She highlighted the media’s role in shaping perceptions and transforming identities while acting as a tool for cultural change that should be intentionally used by the artists.
Dr. Bogna Gladden-Obidzinska realized a series of lectures to the student community and faculty of Kenyatta University on the 11th, the 13th, and the 15th of November 2024 titled “Is Form a Concrete or an Abstract? On the Implications of Different Concepts of Form for Heritage Preservation”. She focused on the role of the concept of form in various philosophical senses, for heritage preservation and restoration.
She also delivered a lecture followed by a workshop on “Cultural Heritage and forms of its protection” for the students pursuing courses in the Diploma in Art and Design programme at Pwani University on the 20th of November 2024.
The meeting was dedicated to the understanding of the concept of form in the context of their creative interests, i.e. in filmmaking, photography, sculpture, painting, and design, and combined with an informal advice session for the students regarding their art careers and prospects.
Dr. Bogna Gladden-Obidzinska, together with Prof. Alessandra Montali from the Conservatorio Giacomo Puccini in La Spezia, also delivered a presentation on the Resonances of Stones project’s activity to Kenyatta University’s faculty members and students on the 20th of October 2024. It was followed by a discussion of the role of digitalization of spaces and their acoustic enhancement as an opportunity for African artists and researchers.
