Artist Otobong Nkanga and author Irenosen Okojie discuss their use of myth-making to tackle themes of extraction of the body and land, memory, care and repair.
Otobong Nkanga’s work focuses on the complex relationship between land and its inhabitants. Animated by her interest in the twin forces of colonialism and extraction, her work addresses the exploitative systems of natural minerals and human labour – and works towards structures of repair.
Nkanga was given a special mention award at the 58th Venice Biennale in 2019 and won the 2017 Belgian Art Prize.
Irenosen Okojie is a Nigerian British author whose work pushes the boundaries of form, language and ideas. Her novel Butterfly Fish and short-story collections – Speak Gigantular and Nudibranch – have won and been nominated for multiple awards.
Her journalism has been featured in The New York Times, and The Guardian. She is a Contributing Editor for The White Review, and she co-presents the BBC's Turn Up for the Books podcast. She was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2021.
The Dear Earth public programme is kindly supported by the Gaia Art Foundation.
