Survival Mode
Photographic Collage & Acrylic on Wood Panel, 35.7 x 20.6 in, 2026
This work explores the realities faced by emerging artists in Uganda, where economic instability, limited government support, and the lasting impacts of colonialism restrict creative expression. Inspired by conversations around survival and the concept of the “precariat,” it reflects how artistic ambition is often overshadowed by the need for stability.
Using collage, photography, and print-based techniques, I constructed a visual narrative through figures made from traditional kitenge fabric, each representing a stage in the artist’s journey.
The first figure kneels, clutching paintbrushes, symbolizing the desire to create with minimal material. Beside it, the green figure is surrounded by paint cans and tubes—immersed in the materials of art‑making but unable to translate ideas into form. The next lime‑green figure holds tools but lacks a surface, caught between intention and execution.
The fourth sits among unsold works, representing production without recognition or support. The final figure stands holding a self-portrait, a photographed silk-screen portrait of myself reaching outward, pleading for recognition and visibility of their created works.
Drawing from my own experience as an emerging artist, this work reflects both personal and collective struggles, highlighting the challenges of sustaining creative practice in third-world countries where art is often undervalued.
