RE-LIVE: Connections Through Movement at the Cusp of the Rift Valley

Connecting to a petrified tree through dance in the Turkwel river, Northern Kenya.

By Eastern African Museum of Art Nairobi (EAMAN)

Turkwel River 3 (2021) by Ian Kathurima Kinyua, SwiftLabOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

Turkwel river

The RE-LIVE performance took place in and on the banks of the river, celebrating the encounter with the petrified trees and the continuity of life.

The Turkwel river runs through the Turkana desert of the Rift Valley.

Scientific measurements’ technologies 11 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

Napudet petrified forest

Physiological measurements of the 12 million-year-old syzygium tree (ancestor of eucalyptus), recorded a signal, indicating possible presence of life.

Through the dance in the performance, protective gestures pave the way for communication between nature and human.

Fragment of the RE-LIVE performance

RE-LIVE, performance 11 (2021) by James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

From observers to participants

James Mweu engages young Turkana audiences in the performance RE-LIVE at the banks of Turkwel River which runs through the Turkana desert, Rift Valley, Northern Kenya.

RE-LIVE, performance 25 (2021) by James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

The breathtaking nature surrounding Turkana Basin Institute

James Mweu and Olga Kisseleva perform in the Turkwel river in front of the Turkana Basin Institute.

RE-LIVE, performance 38 (2021) by James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

Travelling through time together

James Mweu and Olga Kisseleva stand in front of the RE-LIVE audience-turn-participants at the banks of the Turkwel River.

RE-LIVE performance 8 (2021) by James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

A shared moment

James Mweu and Olga Kisseleva stand in front of the young people living near the Turkwel river who have just volunteered to participate in the RE-LIVE performance.

James Mweu and Olga Kisseleva stand in front of the young people from the villages neighbouring Turkana Basin Institute after the Re-Live performance

RE-LIVE performance 2 (2021) by James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

Connecting

James Mweu in the waters of the Turkwel River during the RE-LIVE performance in the Turkana desert, the Rift Valley, Kenya.

RE-LIVE performance 1 (2021) by James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

Absorbed in nature

James Mweu performs a RE-LIVE improvisation in the Turkwel river which is running through the Turkana desert of the Rift valley, Kenya.

The dance in the river is a moving tree. The performers’ movements are inspired by the inner state of the tree, reconstituted from the transmitted data. Dancing in the water of the Turkwel river, the bodies of the performers are doubled with their reflections.

RE-LIVE performance 13, James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, James Muriuki, 2021, From the collection of: Eastern African Museum of Art Nairobi (EAMAN)

RE-LIVE performance 14, James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, James Muriuki, 2021, From the collection of: Eastern African Museum of Art Nairobi (EAMAN)

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James Mweu embodying a petrified tree and marking the continuity of life of the Rift Valley

RE-LIVE, performance 23 (2021) by James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

Shadows in the sunset

The sun sets behind James Mweu and Olga Kisseleva as they conclude the RE-LIVE performance.

RE-LIVE, performance 24 (2021) by James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/

A living tree

Credits: Story

RE-LIVE, performance (2021)

Artists and performers: James Mweu, Olga Kisseleva
Choreography: James Mweu
Photographers: 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

Audio by Kwale Singers and Sven Kacirek, Album: "The Kenya Sessions"

Commissioned, co-created and co-produced by EAMAN

Participation of the TURKANA BASIN INSTITUTE is gratefully acknowledged.

Listening to The Rift Valley Project: https://eaman.org

Credits: All media

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

Eastern African Museum of Art Nairobi (EAMAN)

Stories from Eastern African Museum of Art Nairobi (EAMAN)

Online Exhibit