Kenyan artist Kaloki Nyamai has unveiled a striking new installation at Sprengel Museum Hannover, introducing audiences to a body of work that continues to expand his material and conceptual language. Opened on 10 April 2026, the presentation takes over the museum’s Calder Hall with three towering textile works, each reaching up to six metres high. The exhibition runs through 5 July 2026, positioning Nyamai’s practice within one of Germany’s most respected modern and contemporary art institutions.
At the heart of the installation is Nyamai’s ongoing exploration of history, memory, and identity. Working with torn fabrics, layered surfaces, and dense stitching, he constructs compositions that feel both fragile and forceful. Fragments of material are assembled and held together through visible threads, creating a visual tension that speaks to rupture, healing, and continuity. Through this process, Nyamai revisits African histories—not as fixed narratives, but as evolving, lived experiences shaped by time, resilience, and reinterpretation.
The installation is presented alongside Horst Antes. Eine Sammlung, a major survey of works by Horst Antes, a central figure in Germany’s postwar New Figuration movement. This curatorial pairing reflects the museum’s broader approach of placing contemporary global voices in conversation with established European legacies. Within this context, Nyamai’s work enters into a dialogue that stretches across generations, geographies, and artistic traditions.
Nyamai’s rise on the international stage has been steadily gaining momentum. His presentation at the Venice Biennale in 2022 brought significant attention to his practice, and his inclusion in the upcoming 61st edition further signals his growing influence. The Hannover exhibition marks another important step, reinforcing his presence within major institutional spaces while deepening the reach of his storytelling.
Through this installation, Nyamai not only expands his own artistic trajectory but also contributes to a wider shift in how African histories and contemporary practices are engaged within global museum contexts.
