| Where Personal Spiritual Identities are Fading… |
| Lemek Sompoika - Kenya |
About the Exhibition
The series begins by exploring the destiny of Bibles as they change hands from their original owners. It looks at the sentimental value that individuals place on these holy readings and sets the stage for the complex relationship between religious institutions and the wider community, as well as the diverse dimensions of faith.
A shift in general perspectives reveals tensions between age groups. For older generations, religion signifies spirituality, identity, deliverance and hope. In contrast, younger generations often associate it with colonial legacies, spiritual oppression, political disillusionment and capitalist exploitation – all indicators of oppression. This disillusionment with the church reflects a broader dissatisfaction with the stance of religious institutions on issues such as politics, ethics and capitalism .
This excavation of people’s ‘Spiritual Identities’ through discarded, second-hand Bibles emphasizes the deeply spiritual essence of individuals and illustrates how spirituality shapes an identity. While fostering a space for dialogue, the work also evokes a sense of nostalgia which allows for a continued engagement with these Wordings and the information embedded within them, whilst younger generations seek alternate spaces of spirituality..
Lemek Sompoika
