NTSAKO NKUNA

Ntsako Nkuna explores the convergence of digital and physical realms in her interdisciplinary artistic practice. Utilizing a blend of screen-printed 3D renders and metal fixtures evoking domestic structures, her work transcends conventional architectural representations. Central to Nkuna's exploration is a critical examination of buildings as dynamic entities, continuously evolving based on the interactions and occupants they accommodate. Drawing upon Elizabeth Grosz's insights from “Architecture from the Outside: Essays on Virtual and Real Space” Nkuna delves into the notion of architectural metamorphosis, highlighting how buildings adapt and transform in response to their inhabitants.

Her artistic journey serves as a quest to unravel the narratives embedded within suburban neighbourhoods, investigating how the narratives we attach to form and materiality shape our perceptions of inhabitation. By juxtaposing these insights with observations from play areas, Nkuna illuminates the significance of design in encoding core values and facilitating diverse modes of interaction. With a background and interest in creating and engaging with video games, Nkuna reflects on how exposure to virtual spatiality such as open world games, Google maps, VR, digital images etc. influences her understanding of materiality, senses, inhabitation, information, and world building. This introspection leads her to explore the concept of world-building beyond virtual reality, examining the extent to which virtual and physical realms intersect architecturally and philosophically. In essence, Nkuna's art invites viewers to reconsider the boundaries between digital and physical environments, prompting reflection on how our experiences in one realm shape our perceptions and interactions in the other.