Leilah Babirye: Ekimyula Ekijjankunene (The Gorgeous Grotesque) / Max Hetzler Berlin

Leilah Babirye’s solo exhibition Ekimyula Ekijjankunene (The Gorgeous Grotesque) at Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin, showcases new sculptures and drawings at two gallery spaces. Rooted in her experiences of homophobia and Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, Babirye’s multidisciplinary practice uses wood, ceramics, bronze, and found objects to create portraits of Queer African and American communities. Her works, incorporating West and Central African iconography, explore the duality of beauty and the grotesque, blending vibrant glazes with discarded materials like tyres and chains. Techniques like nailing, weaving, and polishing highlight material transformation, symbolizing resilience.
The exhibition features small figures, mask-like heads, monumental totems, and vibrant drawings titled Kuchu Ndagamuntu (Queer Identity Card), portraying Queer and Trans individuals. Masks reference both African crafts and the need to conceal identity in Uganda. The Abambowa series, named after Buganda’s royal guards, celebrates Queer community through titles drawn from Ugandan clan systems. Babirye’s work repurposes derogatory terms like ebisiyaga (sugarcane husk) to reveal beauty in the marginalized, uniting history, tradition, and personal narrative to foster visibility and dignity for Queer communities. The exhibition runs until June 28, 2025.
Leilah Babirye: Ekimyula Ekijjankunene (The Gorgeous Grotesque) / Max Hetzler Berlin. Berlin (Germany), May 3, 2025.