Nnena Kalu’s colourful sculptures were created by layering and binding materials such as industrial plastic tubing, newspaper, foam, cling film, fabric and tape. Kalu constructed a series of large-scale sculptures which playfully wrap around the gallery, responding to the unique architecture of the Project Space. 

Visitors were invited to experience Nnena’s energetic creative process, which was shared through a performance-like activation of the works during the initial few days of the exhibition. 

Nnena Kalu is a studio artist at ActionSpace, a London based visual arts organisation that supports artists with learning disabilities. 

About the artist

Nnena Kalu is a studio artist at ActionSpace, a London based visual arts organisation that supports artists with learning disabilities.  Kalu has created extensive site-specific installations in public settings for Le Madmusee’s “Capharnaum” at Theatre de Liege in Belgium in 2016 and at Project Ability’s Trongate 103 Gallery for Glasgow International 2018.  Her Glasgow installation was one of a-n’s recommended events for the Festival, “Kalu undoubtedly has an essence of Phyllida Barlow about her but Kalu’s ingenuity makes Barlow look demure and restrained in comparison – her colour pallette is riotous and the taped shapes crackle with surprising, boundless energy.” 

ActionSpace is a London based visual arts organisation that supports artists with learning disabilities and creates innovative projects for people with learning disabilities to engage with the visual arts. ActionSpace’s work with high profile cultural organisations such as the Royal Academy of Arts, Camden Arts Centre, Outside In and Pallant House Gallery has helped to establish a place for artist with learning disabilities in the contemporary arts sector.