This question sits at the heart of Testimony of Now, an ongoing exhibition that brings together artists who transform everyday life into a living archive. The exhibition reflects the urgency of paying attention to what shapes us today—our routines, technologies, memories, and shifting environments. Rather than looking to the distant past, the artists focus on the present moment, capturing what it means to live now. Working across painting, digital art, tufting, and installation, Odile Uwera, Tihtina Z. Gebre, Jennifer Tuyishimire, Lincka Lydie, Tsega Zewde Rago, and Jessy Solana Nihorimbere (N.J. Solana) offer varied approaches to recording life as it unfolds. Their diversity is intentional, with each voice contributing a distinct perspective on contemporary existence. N.J. Solana’s work explores our relationship with artificial intelligence, reflecting the paradox of being constantly connected yet emotionally distant. Her piece examines how technology shapes presence, attention, and human connection in this fast-moving digital era. Tihtina’s series, Things to Do, turns everyday to-do lists into personal archives. Whether written in notebooks, saved on phones, or scribbled on scraps of paper, these lists quietly document routines, aspirations, and unfinished tasks that define ordinary days. The works sparked thoughtful conversations during the exhibition’s opening night, particularly around the idea of archiving. The show also resonates with broader global discussions about archives and the repatriation of African cultural objects from European institutions. As these debates continue, Testimony of Now asks an important question : what are we choosing to preserve today, and what risks being lost if we don’t? At its core, the exhibition foregrounds women artists as storytellers and custodians of memory. Their voices shape an intimate and reflective narrative of contemporary African life—one that is deeply rooted in lived experience and attentive to moments often overlooked. The exhibition invites viewers to see the present not as fleeting, but as something worthy of preservation. Testimony of Now is open to the public and runs until January 11, 2026, at Simple Living Art Gallery in Kibagabaga. The Testimony of Now is a group exhibition curated by Kakizi Jemima.
