Between Two Places

Ivy Kalungi

5 June - 6 July, 2024

Born in Uganda, and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ivy Kalungi’s practice centres on the intricate tapestry of female black experience. Through sculpture, installation, video, sound and social practice, Kalungi sheds lights on the nuanced complexities of identity and belonging. Her meticulously handcrafted sculptures serve as a conduit for exploration, utilising a diverse range of materials including plaster, cement, wood, metal and found objects.

Rooted in the intricacies of grief, Between Two Places speaks of both personal and collective trauma. Spurred by the recent loss of a close family member, Kalungi began to explore what remains for those significant to us after passing and endeavours to understand how the wider black community coped with the reverberations of loss and trauma. Included in this exhibition are installation and sculpture which represent tangible residues of life left behind. On one wall hangs an installation of dry raffia leaves, a material that roots back to Ugandan culture. Kalungi’s intention is to create an immersive space for reflection, inviting viewers to touch the fibres and listen to the sound of the leaves

Also included in the exhibition are cowrie shells which historically have been used as currency, a symbol of wealth, and in traditional rituals. Through experimentation with materials like raffia and cowrie shells, Kalungi hopes to articulate the intangible essence of the human experience in the face of mortality and grief, particularly within black narratives of death. In her sculptures and installations, Kalungi invites viewers to contemplate the multifaceted nature of isolation and culture. She provides a space for dialogue and reflection, amplifying the voices of black women and fostering connections within the community.

Ivy Kalungi was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and currently lives and works in Liverpool. She completed her MFA at Manchester University in 2020 and her BA at Liverpool Hope University in 2019. In May 2024, Kalungi completed a residency at The Good Eye, London in collaboration with Pipeline. Selected exhibitions include a duo exhibition with Matthew Bamber at Castlefield Gallery, Manchester (2022); FACT residency, Liverpool (2019); OUTPUT Gallery, Liverpool (2019). Kalungi has participated in a number of panel discussions including with Lubaina Himid: Black Women Artists Symposium, Uclan (2018) and Artists in Conversation, Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool (2018). Her solo exhibition with Pipeline will mark the artist's first exhibition in London.