Exploring Art & Science as Complementary Forms of Creativity
See how children from the Anidan Centre for Children in Lamu co-create with EAMAN artistic interpretations of communication with a baobab tree.
Anidan Shelter for Children
Part of Lamu Town and its cultural topography, it has been providing shelter, warmth and additional meaning in life for generations of underprivileged children of Lamu.
Collaboration
EAMAN through its “Listening to the Rift Valley” project collaborated with Anidan in the production of the performance SINA SIRI NINA JIBU ("I Have No Secrets But I Have an Answer").
Art and science
Artists and scientists from the ”Listening to the Rift Valley” project invited the children of Anidan to co-create a dialogue with a baobab tree.
Exploration
A lesson about the interactions of art and science was taught to the Anidan students by the EAMAN team. It explored various natural phenomena from scientific and artistic perspectives:
Are sunsets poetry or the length of the sun rays?
How can we communicate with trees using scientific methods?
What do they say to us?
How can we read their messages?
Children’s creativity and interest were awakened through understanding the method used and the khanga colour coding.
Co-creation with Anidan students 5 (2021) by James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
...this drone will allow the world to see your artwork...
Drone pilot Ian Kathurima Kinyua showing the drone to be used to film the performance to the Anidan students.
Co-creation with Anidan students 3 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Interpreting connections between art and science
Students at work during the lesson "Is life Art, Science, or Both?" at the Anidan Centre for Children.
Co-creation with Anidan students 1 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
We will make a baobab talk!
Choreographer and dancer James Mweu introducing himself to students of Anidan before conducting a choreography class.
Co-creation with Anidan students 10 (2021) by James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Is life art, science, or both?
Co-Director of EAMAN Maria Amelina teaching a class on connections between art and science to the students of the Anidan Centre for Children.
Co-creation with Anidan students 2 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Now it is our turn to create!
Students from the Anidan Centre for Children making their own images of a colour code for a baobab tree during the class "Is life Art, Science, or Both?"
Co-creation with Anidan students 4 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Creating their own images of communication with baobab
Students of the Anidan Centre for Children drawing their own versions of communication with a baobab through a color code.
Co-creation with Anidan students 5 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
A young artist with his own message for a baobab
A student of the Anidan Centre for Children with his drawing of a baobab tree at the sunset.
Co-creation with Anidan students 6 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Connecting to a baobab through art
A drawing of a baobab tree made by a student of the Anidan Centre for Children created during the class about about interaction of art and science.
A drawing of a baobab tree by , a student at Anidan centre (2022) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiEastern African Museum of Art Nairobi (EAMAN)
A baobab and a color code
A drawing of a baobab tree made by a student of the Anidan Centre for Children with her version of a colour code included in the drawing.
Co-creation with Anidan students 6 (2021) by James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Tall stories about a big tree
Choreographer and dancer James Mweu talking to the students of the Anidan Centre for Children after the class "Is Life Art, Science, or Both?"
Co-creation with Anidan students 8 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Getting ready to make color code art
Choreographer James Mweu rehearses with the students of the Anidan Centre for Children for the performance SINA SIRI NINA JIBU ("I have no secrets but I have an answer").
Co-creation with Anidan students 4 (2021) by James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Tomorrow we will make art together!
Choreographer and dancer James Mweu finishing the rehearsal for the performance SINA SIRI NINA JIBU with the students of the Anidan Centre for Children.
Through their dedicated engagement and creativity students of Anidan became co-creators of the project. Their new gaze at the baobabs of the island and their awakened curiosity will enrich their experience of listening to the nature around them.
Is Sunset Art or Science? Students from the Anidan Centre Explore a Baobab with EAMAN
Author: EAMAN educational project
Research and Datascape: Olga Kisseleva
Choreographer: James Mweu
Photographer: Ian Kathurima Kinyua (SwiftLab), James Muriuki, Margaret Ngigi
Video editing: James Muriuki, Emmaus Kimani, Federico Debetto
Curator: James Muriuki
Project & Technical Coordinator: Emmaus Kimani
Project Director: Maria Amelina
Commissioned, co-created and co-produced by EAMAN
Participation of the Anidan Centre, Lamu is gratefully acknowledged.
Listening to The Rift Valley Project: https://eaman.org
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