nolan oswald dennis

We’re excited to round out the first season of our 2025–2027 Focus Theme, 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 with the latest edition of our digital publishing series Post/doc. Two newly commissioned projects by Johannesburg-based artist Nolan Oswald Dennis (@data_body ) and Tbilisi and New York-based artist Levani (Levan Mindiashvili @data_body ) grapple with oral and aural matter as a microcosm for understanding interpersonal relations during times of political upheaval and dislocation. In these works, sound—or the question of what one hears vs. what is heard—becomes the matter through which cognitive dissonance is captured, where ruptures in collective memory are made intelligible. Find Dennis and Levani’s Post/doc projects at the link in our bio! Post/doc is edited by Re’al Christian (@r_christian__ ), VLC assistant director of editorial initiatives. @data_body @levanmindi #MatterofIntelligence Image Credits: Nolan Oswald Dennis, Untitled (The land), 2025. Photo by Kristien Daem, courtesy the artist and Kunstinstituut Melly. Levani (Levan Mindiashvili), what is your form?, 2025, video. Courtesy the artist.

Artist focus 7/11: ‘Glissant’s work gives me permission (…)’ by Nolan Oswald Dennis __ Thank you to Nolan Oswald Dennis and congratulations to all for the exhibition ‘The Earth, The Fire, The Water, and The Winds - For a Museum of Errantry with Édouard Glissant’, the first ever international exhibition presenting the Édouard Glissant Art Collection in relation with new art generations. at Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo (BR). Through Jan. 25th 2026 __ With more than 50 artists. __ Curators: Ana Roman and Paulo Miyada __ An initiative of Instituto Tomie Ohtake, co-organized by Mémorial ACTe, Edouard Glissant Art Fund (EGAF) and Institut du Tout-Monde (ITM), with the Center for Art Research and Alliances (CARA) and institutional support from Institut Français __ Exhibition design: ITO. Logo EGAF: Arthur Francietta / Bureau Blindé, based on an original drawing by Édouard Glissant. __ #NolanOswaldDennis @data_body #TheEarthTheFireTheWaterAndTheWinds #ForAMuseumOfErrantry #ÉdouardGlissant #AnaRoman @anac.roman #PauloMiyada @paulomiyada #InstitutoTomieOhtake @institutotomieohtake #SaoPaulo #MemorialActe @memorial_acte #EdouardGlissantArtFund @edouardglissantartfund #InstitutDuToutMonde @institutdutoutmonde #CenterForArtResearchAndAlliances @cara_the_org #InstitutFrancais @if_officiel #ContemporaryArt #GlissantsWorkGivesMePermission

Exhibition opening Friday, October 24—Nolan Oswald Dennis: 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 (𝘪) Presented with @insite_art ▪️Opening Reception: Friday, October 24, 5:30–8 PM ▪️Conversation between Nolan Oswald Dennis (@data_body ) and critic KJ Abudu (@kj_abudu ): Friday, October 24, 5:30–6:15 PM ▪️On view: October 25, 2025–January 17, 2026 ▪️Location: Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, La Jolla INSITE is pleased to announce Nolan Oswald Dennis: 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 (𝘪), an exhibition opening this October at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla, CA. Informed by the study of geological and planetary systems, and situated within African and diasporic relations to the land, cosmos, and anti-colonial political structures, Dennis’ work approaches the world as it is while mapping possibilities for transforming it. 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 (𝘪) marks the West Coast premiere of 𝘐𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘦, an ongoing project that replicates rock specimens from geology museums and university departments in South Africa and parts of the world where the work has been shown. Originally commissioned for INSITE Commonplaces in Johannesburg in 2021, this project has since traveled to the Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, Netherlands; the Swiss Institute in New York; and Gasworks in London. 📸: Photos 1, 3, 5, 6 by Daniel Pérez Photo 2 courtesy of @goodman_gallery Photo 4 by Dillion Marsh Photo 7 by Cedric Mussano

☄️🪨 Edition Launch: ‘a mass (PRA 04402,23)’ by Nolan Oswald Dennis 🪨☄️ We’re so excited to launch a new edition by artist Nolan Oswald Dennis (@data_body ), following his exhibition ‘throwers’, which ran at Gasworks between 24 April - 22 June 2025. Nolan’s practice traces the connections between science, technology and political history through what they describe as “a black consciousness of space”, an exploration of the material and metaphysical conditions of decolonization. This edition, ‘a mass (PRA 04402,23)’, extends Dennis’ ongoing research into “potentially hazardous objects” - near-earth asteroids that periodically pose catastrophic risk to our planet. Silkscreened onto a stainless steel substrate is a sketch of Dennis’ favourite rock, a meteorite fragment (scientifically named PRA 04402,23) collected in Antarctica in 2004. Accompanying the edition are nine magnets, each relating to Dennis’ research on representations of stones hurtling through space and time, as well as the act of throwing. Nolan Oswald Dennis a mass (PRA 04402,23), 2025 Two-colour silkscreen on stainless steel with nine magnets 30 x 41cm Edition of 25 Please note that this edition will be dispatched from late October 2025. Available to purchase now via the Gasworks website - link in bio. Gasworks regularly produces exclusive limited-edition artworks, publications, and merchandise in collaboration with artists involved in our programmes. These beautiful and affordable artworks are kindly donated by artists and allow us to continue to support emerging artists to research, develop and present new work. Edition photography by Andy Keate. #GasworksLondon #GasworksArtists #editions #limitededitions #artforsale #nolanoswalddennis

I went to French Guiana expecting to see a rocket and instead found myself called to the absences of Leon G Damas. Guyanese poet, radical anti-assimilationist and co-founder of Negritude. While Cesaire and Senghor are lauded by post/colonial powers - Damas remains uncelebrated in his native land. Maybe the eclipsing of Damas is a feature of his work not a bug. An affect/effect of his insistence on Negritude as the continuity of subversion rather than the rediscovery of identity. Damasian Negritude haunts the re-colonial trajectory of decolonial thought.

. the pleasure of photographing another GASWORKS beautiful event 😎📸 Black Earth Study Club at Gasworks Convened around Nolan Oswald Dennis. @gasworkslondon @data_body @homopathic Photo credit : Tarlan Lotfizadeh @tlphotography.co.uk @tlphotography.co.uk @dezreview #dezreview

📣 Be sure to add ‘throwers’, the first UK solo exhibition by Johannesburg-based artist Nolan Oswald Dennis, to your art calendar. On view at @gasworkslondon , it includes large-scale murals, intricate diagrams, and a 3D-printed installation. The exhibition investigates the intersections of geology, cosmology, and political histories. Be sure to join the remaining Black Earth Study Club sessions, which will contextualise the exhibition. Convened by interdisciplinary writer, artist, and curator Imani Mason Jordan, the club invites artists, writers, and scholars to reflect on the topics orbiting Nolan’s practice. 22 May - Ain Bailey (@ain.bailey ), Imani Mason Jordan (@homopathic ), Elaine Mitchener (@elainemitchener1 ) 29 May - Christine Kirubi (fakedove_), Imani Mason Jordan (@homopathic ), Nikita Sena (@dede.koko ) Book your free tickets to Black Earth Study Club via the link in the Gasworks bio. 🪐 View ‘throwers’ until 22 June 2025 📍Gasworks, London #NolanOswaldDennis #throwers #Gasworks #ArtExhibition #BlackEarthStudyClub #LondonArt #London

Our Koyo, who fought for us with grace and kindness. Siyabulela. Lala ngoxolo

A potentially hazardous object moves – will it hit? Through the act of throwing a rock, Nolan Oswald Dennis (@data_body ) explores the unpredictability of chaotic systems, the power of naming, and the idea that ‘worldlessness’ – a break from imposed structures – might be a kind of freedom. Read ‘Throwers (space-rock notes pt.1)’ on our website or pick up a copy of the Serpentine Reader at our shop. - Visuals: Aleksei Berkov (@aleksei.studio )

💫 NEXT EXHIBITION AT GASWORKS ☄️ NOLAN OSWALD DENNIS 🪨 ⁠ Opening on Wednesday 23 April, the first UK solo exhibition by Johannesburg-based artist Nolan Oswald Dennis @data_body investigates the intersections of geology, cosmology, and political histories. Including large-scale murals, intricate diagrams, and a 3D-printed installation, throwers examines the conditions that organise our social sub-terrain and the structures that pre-determine the limits of our political imagination. In doing so, the exhibition challenges the colonial conception of a singular, knowable “world”, instead suggesting new models for envisioning a Black planet.⁠ ⁠ Nolan Oswald Dennis: throwers⁠ 24 April – 22 June 2025⁠ Preview: Wednesday 23 April, 6:30-8:30pm⁠ ⁠ The Lead Supporters for Nolan Oswald Dennis' exhibition are Marcus (@marcuswaleycohen ) and Alexa Waley-Cohen (@alexaewc ). Headline Supporters are Mercedes Vilardell (@mercedes_vilardell ) and Goodman Gallery (@goodman_gallery ), with additional support from the Henry Moore Foundation (@henrymoorefdn_grants ). The exhibition is presented in partnership with Swiss Institute New York (@swissinstitute ). Gasworks’ Exhibitions programme is supported by Catherine Petitgas (@catherinepetitgas ), Gasworks Exhibitions Supporters and Arts Council England. Gasworks' 2025/26 programme is generously funded by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund held at The Prism Charitable Trust. ⁠ Find out more info via the link in bio 🔗⁠ ⁠ Photo Credit: Anders Sune Berg. Courtesy the artist and ARoS Art Museum.⁠ ⁠ #NolanOswaldDennis #NolanOswaldDennisthrowers #NolanOswaldDennisGasworks #GasworksLondon #Londonart #Londonartscene #Londonartworld #artexhibitionLondon #Londongallery #exhibitionopening #contemporaryart #galleryopening⁠ #HenryMooreGrants

iduku [01]: A Limited Edition by Nolan Oswald Dennis during at @art_rotterdam Art Rotterdam 2025, Ahoy This year we are excited to present iduku [01], a new limited edition artwork by Johannesburg-based artist Nolan Oswald Dennis launched on the occasion of Art Rotterdam 2025. This 70 × 70 cm cloth features a sublimation print on armani silk of Nolan’s signature models and diagrams. Each edition entitles the bearer to a certificate and a 3D printed rock from Nolan’s ongoing installation Isivivane/Superpositions. The cloth folds into a furoshiki wrap to hold and protect your chosen rock. The design embodies a dual perspective: one side reflects a scientific worldview, while the other hints at the histories and knowledge systems that such perspectives often erase. Developed from Isivivane/Superpositions—currently on view at Kunstinstituut Melly—this edition expands Nolan’s ongoing inquiry into land, memory, and cyclical systems of reproductive labor. The 3D-printed rocks which this installation produces over the course of the exhibition are modelled after geological specimens from South African museums, reinforcing the work’s exploration of land, displacement, and planetary time. Produced in an edition of 200, iduku [01] invites us to reconsider the ways in which history, science, and spiritual geographies intersect. Visit us at Booth G6 to experience the edition for yourself, priced at €350 a piece. (Link in bio) Opening: Thursday 27 March, 4pm - 9pm Friday 28 – Sunday 30 March, 11am - 7pm Rotterdam Ahoy, Booth: G06 Courtesy of @data_body Nolan Oswald Dennis & molalatladi

NOLAN OSWALD DENNIS “MODEL FOR A GASP (VEILED)” 2022 Nylon inflatable, integrated fan, cowry shell net @zeitzmocaa <<This work simulates the motion of breathing, “umoya”; to take a breath and breathlessness. Within the overall intellectual, spiritual and material concerns of Nolan’s practice, a black sphere often signifies a recurring image of the earth, or the world made void. With this work, the artist refers to an image that appears on the cover of a popular album by the American anarchist hip hop group Public Enemy, titled Fear of a Black Planet and released in 1990, the same year that Black South African anti-apartheid political parties were unbanned once the regime was toppled. The featured image on the album cover is of two spheres floating in space. One is of planet earth, as we all know it, the other is of a black sphere. Model for a gasp recasts that black sphere as a kinetic body suspended in space, inflating and deflating according to a rhythm of its own. A cowry shell net veils half the sphere, protecting it but also transforming it. The shells transform an intellectual model into a spiritual instrument.>>