an image of a brightly coloured sculpture featuring wood wrapped in textile. And a person with a blue shirt and cream trousers standing to the right of the photo next to the sculpture. In white the text reads 'exhibition review. David Keen writes'

David Keen visited Andrew Omoding’s solo exhibition at Camden Art Centre
and was inspired to respond with three poems. Here we share the poems alongside installation photographs from the exhibition.

David Keen writing poetry in the space, inspired by Andrew’s incredible sculptures. Photo courtesy Headway East London.

‘Things From Which to Recall…?’

-But what is the story of all these animals..?

-As products of things, built to let us recall…? (!).

-The wonderful beasts, from his native Uganda..?

-Where things, here, in contrast, might seem stalled…? (!).

-It might amaze us, how things, here, look…

-How bits, & scraps, might still all brook…

-How much is there, without interference…

-Great sights of pure nature, to hook...(!).

Installation view, *Animals to Remember Uganda* at Camden Art Centre, 26 April/ 23 June 2024. Courtesy the Artist and ActionSpace, London. Photo: Rob Harris

‘The Sight of Some Other Places...’

-These wonderful animals -remade from memories...,

-Show maybe a serenity, beyond his expecting...(!).

-With a peacefulness, beyond even all his elations…

-And ideas of far, far further, from his own narration….(!).

-Just a series of items -reflecting his own homeland…

-It’s more like Central Africa, than affairs in our bland...(!).

-Constructed from found things, it still does present…

-A far greater breadth than anywhere we are sent...(!)

‘Frozen In The Corridor..?’

-Little creatures, abandoned, exploring the front space...(!),

-Maybe not totally conscious of those things they may face...(!).

-All frozen -uncertain of how they should feel...(!),

-In an unheard of place, towards which they must ‘steel’...(!).

-Things more hectic, in this place, than where they are from...(!),

-They’re still less inclined, to much movement, or song...(!).

-What they may be feeling, we might not feel, normally….(!),

-It gives them more challenge, than what we’d see informally...(!).

About David Keen

For David, poetry helps to describe the experience of brain injury by exploring the challenges of recovery and how art can help with this process. Through creativity, people with brain injury can gain confidence and status, but this is not always an easy path. David Keen has been a member of Headway East London since 2015. He has loved writing ever since he was a copywriter in advertising. After his brain injury, he found new ways to use those abilities, spending time at Submit to Love writing and reading poems for his fellow artists.

Headway East London – a charity supporting people affected by brain injury. Working across 13 London boroughs they offer specialist support and services for over 200 survivors, family, friends and carers in the local area each week. They empower their community of brain injury survivors and their families to imagine new possibilities – ones filled with creativity, embracing diversity and backed by specialist support.

‘Animals to Remember Uganda’ is a solo show at Camden Art Centre by Andrew Omoding – an artist affiliated to ActionSpace. In an ambitious new commission developed site-responsively for Gallery Three and the Reading Room, Andrew repurposed abandoned materials and objects, interweaving them with new metalwork produced in a London foundry, music, and video in an installation that embraces the characteristic exuberance and generosity of his practice. His work is largely autobiographical, infused with memories of his childhood years in Uganda. Led by an inquisitive nature and discerning eye, he salvages materials then choreographs them in complex structures that sit between figuration and abstraction. Exhibition runs until 23 June 2024.

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