Wrapping, Nnena Kalu

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.

Past events

High Street Soundwalk Artist Talk: Jez riley French

Installation view. In My Room, Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings. Courtesy of Focal Point Gallery and the artists, 2020 © Anna Lukala

In My Room, Hannah Quinlan & Rosie Hastings

HSG x GK Beaulah: Design Challenge

Fruit Factory Network site visit to Bloc Projects, Sheffield © Absolutely Cultured

Life as a Creative

Dance Exchange Hull, 2019 © Tom Arran

Meet the funders

Installation View. Practice in Place. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2020. © Jules Lister

Practice In Place

HIPI Hang Out Forum, Absolutely Cultured © Absolutely Cultured

Arts Council England under £15k Applications: Top Tips with Deb Ashby

Remote Talent Development

Installation view, 2019. Ollie Dook, Proboscidea Rappings. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister

Proboscidea Rappings, Ollie Dook

Dance Exchange Programme, Absolutely Cultured © Absolutely Cultured

Dance Exchange Hull

Language Café © Chris Pepper

Chatty Hull

Hull Takeover: Previews © The Herd/The Roaring Girls/Just Club

Hull Takeover: Previews

Athena Papadopoulos, A Tittle-Tattle Tell-a-Tale-Heart, courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist 2019. © James Mulkeen

A Tittle-Tattle Tell-a-Tale Heart, Athena Papadopoulos

Installation view. Place To Place: Liverpool Biennial Touring Programme. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists 2019. © Tom Arran

Place To Place: Liverpool Biennial Touring Programme

Jamie Reid XXXXX: Fifty Years of Subversion and The Spirit © Jamie Reid

Jamie Reid XXXXX: Fifty Years of Subversion and The Spirit

Contains Strong Language © BBC

Contains Strong Language

Land of Green Ginger © Tom Arran

Act VII: Land of Green Ginger

John Grant's North Atlantic Flux: Sounds from Smoky Bay © Chris Pepper

John Grant's North Atlantic Flux: Sounds from Smoky Bay

The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca © Hull Truck Theatre

The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca

Installation view. HSG Open Call - Season Two. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2021. © Jules Lister

HSG Open Call - Season Two

Yoga @ Humber Street Gallery

Installation View. HSG Open Call - Season One. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2021. © Jules Lister

HSG Open Call - Season One (2021)

Chatty Hull, 2019 © Absolutely Cultured

Making work with and for communities

Installation view, 2020. Jamie Crewe, Solidarity & Love. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister.

Jamie Crewe, Solidarity & Love

Model City, Absolutely Cultured © Tom Arran

Volunteer Community Support and Crisis Response

Installation view, 2020. Lucy Clout, ZZZ. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2020. © Jules Lister

Lucy Clout, ZZZ

Lucy, 2019. Aniara Omann, Equanipolis. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister

Equanipolis, Aniara Omann

Installation View. Mike S Redmond and Faye Coral Jones (MSR FCJ), Ecstatic Rituals.Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister