The newest exhibition at the Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery explores African history and Afrofuturism through the art of current PhD candidate Aaron Samuel Mulenga. Ukupupuka: An Exploration of Transcendence integrates Mulenga’s doctoral dissertation research on World War I porters called TengaTenga with the concept of the Afronaut to explore concepts of mobility, transcendence and divinity.
Open now until February 8th, Ukupupuka utilizes interdisciplinary art practices to display a collection of photos, videos, sculptures and more in both the faculty gallery and the Sesnon’s main gallery.
Mulenga, a Zambian artist who came to the U.S. six years ago, became interested in World War I (WWI) history after learning how the war ended in his home county (the fighting continued in Zambia after the ceasefire in Europe). His work recontextualizes the work of the African people used to carry weapons, food and supplies for European forces in East Africa. The Tenga Tenga, as they were known, were largely left out of histories and discussions about WWI. “It’s predominantly engaging with this story and asking, how do we remember people whose memories are not present, either through names or even the images that we use,” says Mulenga.
His historical exploration skips forward to the ‘60s and Zambia’s liberation from British control. In 1964 a Zambian Freedom Fighter, Edward Mukuka Nkoloso, founder of the Zambia National Academy of Science, began training for space travel. Though the Zambian Space Program was not fully realized, Nkoloso’s revolutionary thinking served as inspiration for Mulenga and other artists concerned with Afrofuturism. Through his current exhibit Mulenga also hopes to switch conversations around Afrofuturism away from a Western perspective, which is how the concept is traditionally conceived.
Pairing these histories with allusions to Jesus and Catholicism, Mulenga crafts an image of divinity rooted in Blackness. “In Zambia a lot of the church imagery of Christ is this white person with a very pink face, blue eyes, brown hair,” says Mulenga. “Why in Zambia do we have this kind of representation of Christ? People want to see themselves reflected in divinity, so why not have a Black Jesus upon the wall, so that you can relate to this?”
Ukupupuka marks Mulenga’s first solo exhibition in the U.S. since coming to the United States. His work has been shown in several galleries across Zambia and South Africa, where he went to college, and offers a unique experience to explore a multicultural look at art and creation.
About the Artist
Aaron Samuel Mulenga is a multi-disciplinary artist and scholar from Zambia, now residing in Santa Cruz, California. Since 2015 his work has been exhibited in galleries and institutions including the Iziko Museum, and SMAC gallery in Cape Town, the Henry Tayali gallery, 37 D gallery and Modzi Arts Gallery in Lusaka. Aaron has participated in several art exhibitions such as the second Congo Biennial, 2022, in Kinshasa, D.R Congo, the Johannesburg Art Fair, 2022, and the Stellenbosch Triennial in 2020, in South Africa. Aaron holds a B.F.A. from the University of Cape Town, an M.F.A from Rhodes University and an M.A from the University of California Santa Cruz where he is currently pursuing a P.h.D in History of Art and Visual Culture.
More Information
Exhibition Dates: January 8 – February 8, 2025
Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
Porter College, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, 95064
sesnon@ucsc.edu | 831-459-3606
Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 12pm–5pm; Wednesdays, 12–8pm
Free and Open to the Public