Use of Sustainable Non-Contemporary Materials by East African Multi-Disciplinary Artists: Case of Sanaa Gateja, Evans Ngure and Samson Ssenkaaba

Abstract

Many states across the world have adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The purpose of these goals is to realize a sustainable future for all. This is further expounded upon as upholding of human dignity, social inclusion and environmental protection (UNESCO, 2016). In furtherance of these goals, artists, architects, designers and those in the creative space in East Africa are embracing this call though their artwork and their production processes. This paper studied three champions of such creative's through a multiple case research design in Nairobi. The aim was to establish their approach to application of east African domiciled cultural techniques and materials to produce contemporary art and design. The study concluded that east African art and design has pervaded and surpassed all colonial, national and international boundaries. The Impact is manifested in the fact that through the years, east African art & design has become collected artifacts in countries where it has been exhibited.