Nerima Makhondo

Nerima Makhondo ApodaSpark was raised in Eldoret, Kenya. They use Xe/They pronouns since Xe identifies as non-human. They are a multitalented artist whose foundation is performance. For undergrad, Xe studied ‘Drama and Performance studies’ at Columbia University. ApodaSpark lives art and arts life using their body to enmesh the two. Xe is a collector of skills like a videogame character. With little institutional training, they have a do-it-yourself approach when making work, where process is more important than product and the specificity of the project determines its medium. In addition to their work being D.I.Y, Xe mixes media because it expands their approach to different themes by creating new conversations as the forms interact. Xe explore themes of trauma and mental health, sexual assault, black political questions, gender violence and questions of masquerade. They are at their best when working with their hands or on a stage. Xe is always seeking to add new skillsets just in case the world as we know it ends. They do not believe in formal institutions from past violent experiences; Xe prefers apprenticeship and self-teaching. Currently, ApodaSpark is transitioning back to full-time creative pursuits in music and their performance practice.

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About me:

Nerima Makhondo ApodaSpark was raised in Eldoret, Kenya. They use Xe/They pronouns since Xe identifies as non-human. They are an any-media artist whose foundation is performance. For undergrad, Xe studied ‘Drama and Performance studies’ at Columbia University. 

ApodaSpark lives art and arts life using their body to enmesh the two. Xe is a collector of skills like a videogame character. With little institutional training, they have a do-it-yourself approach when making work, where process is more important than product and the specificity of the project determines its medium. In addition to their work being D.I.Y, Xe mixes media because it expands their approach to different themes by creating new conversations as the forms interact. Xe explore themes of trauma and mental health, sexual assault, black political questions, gender violence and questions of masquerade. 

They are at their best when working with their hands or on a stage. Xe is always seeking to add new skillsets just in case the world as we know it ends. They do not believe in formal institutions from past violent experiences; Xe prefers apprenticeship and self-teaching. Currently, ApodaSpark is transitioning back to full-time creative pursuits in music and their performance practice.

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ApodaSpark

Qualities: Shapeshifter🧑🏾‍🎤, Awe-inspiring, hypnotic 🔮, Chic-bitch rockstar 🎸

The conduit of creativity for the self. Dedicated to self-fashioning in alignment with their highest good. Ever ready to rush the stage and hype out the crowd or be in the middle of the moshpit! Came at a time I evolved into a formless Cosmos 7 alien that landed in their tonka spaceship to destroy civility. They channel all what they have learnt and continue learning to share with the mortals.

Quote: Get in loser🛸, we going to rage 🤯out da FHUCK🥳?!

Food and Drink Profile: 🍔🍕🥪and Konya(c)gi

Photographer: @kulnzu 

Videographer: @directedbynatashaayoo 

Wardrobe: @akiba_studios 

Stylist & Model: @apodaspark 

Edits: @apodaspark

Studio: @nit_studio

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Makhondo

Qualities: Flirty👨🏾‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏾, Daring🧞Decisive, Quirky🧑🏾‍🎤.

They will definitely steal your sidechick and treat her better than you! A certified ‘Ravin King’ allegedly been labeled ‘A child of the streets.’ 🤣 always keen to step into their sexual power and ever the social butterfly. Came at a time of transition into an independent being to solidify my individuality. The shell of the trio and the one you’re most likely to meet outside. 

Quote: “let’s split a Pilly 💊on da dance floor, I need a thrill🪩!”

Food and Drink profile:  🥘  🐑 biryani and Orijin 

Photographer: @kulnzu 

Videographer: @directedbynatashaayoo 

Wardrobe: @akiba_studios 

Stylist & Model: @apodaspark 

Edits: @apodaspark

Studio: @nit_studio

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Nak3d lunch 

Qualities: Eclectic 🧚🏾, Courageous 🦄, world-builder 🌍, self-starter👨🏾‍🎨

Laid a foundation for my self actualization. A certified goofy everytime she in the spot! Always pursuing her impulses and interests to make more of herself, from herself. Came at a time in which her old friend thought she was ‘crazyyy’ and ‘willddd’. In many ways this is my inner teen. I was nak3d to myself and the world and had a public display of self discovery. She had a lot of experimentation and was not afraid to follow her own rabbit holes.

Quote: “I bark🐾 at social norms🤪”

Food and drink Profile: toasted buttered🥓 🥑 🥯 and Mango-Passion Smoothie 🍹.

Photographer: @kulnzu 

Videographer: @directedbynatashaayoo 

Wardrobe: @akiba_studios 

Stylist & Model: @apodaspark 

Edits: @apodaspark

Studio: @nit_studio

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A post shared by 🎀 𝒩𝒶𝓉𝒶𝓈𝒽𝒶 🎀 (@ay00.___)

Red Blues: A film about companionship & self love contemplations. I read 'All About Love' by Bell Hooks and she literally articulated everything I had been feeling and tried to express some of that in this film.

“Life without communion and love with others would be less fulfilling no matter the extent of ones self love” -Bell Hooks

Written, directed & edited by @directedbynatashaayoo Co-written by @shishiwanj D.O.P @apondìi_ & @directedbynatashaayoo Cast @apodaspark & @_bustalimez

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Cloud Nerima is an exploration of my different selves that have become apparent to me through a year long personal reflection. They are three outstanding characters that take their own life within me and all have and do play an integral role in how I situate myself in the world. I hope you enjoy exploring them as much as I did communing with them.

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'Alluring Faces'

A Short Fashion Film directed by Natasha Ayoo & Mbaalamwezi D.O.P @ayiekocreate._ Featuring  @aunty.awa @apodaspark @junetnimmo @jordez_freshcobar @esvrsn @odiiyo

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Sapphic.jpg

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Decapitated.jpg

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I wanted the video to feel like a funeral house, but also like the space the soul occupies while dying, the grave space and existence past the body. I liked the material quality too, somewhat reminiscent of Nollywood films we grew up watching. There is always an otherworldly presence.

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P E N D U L U M

2016

P E N D U L U M is a multimedia sensory exhibit that  immerses you in the artists’ experiences of mental illness. The exhibit brought in a crowd of about 50 people, who reportedly experienced many feelings such as understanding, discomfort, awe, confusion, sadness... Their reactions were documented and can be found here. The exhibit included photography, a short film, a dance and performance art piece, a painting, information about bipolar disorder, as well as other materials.

The V-Day Art Collective DaMonique Ballou;  Producer Ornella Friggit; Artistic Director Nadia Naomi Mbonde;  Artist, Curator Natalie Ruguru Karira; Artist Thando Mlambo; Photographer and Musician

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“Pin Face”

A collage experimentation 04.

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“Untitled”

A collage experimentation 03.

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“Inner Space”

A collage experimentation 02.

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Digital Art: Decolonising the Internet via Tabita Rezaire.

I am interested in how we can begin to use the internet we already have in intentional and informed ways so as not to rein-scribe its problematic structures. I look at digital art as a way to try and forge new ways of interacting with the internet. In this paper, I explore, Tabita Rezaire’s digital art work to find strategies on how to work within the oppressive world on the internet. 

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Karira, Four Women if you know you know.mp4

"Four Women, if you know you know" is a piece that engages with how black women have resisted and are resting state oppression and other. Using collected texts, the performance uses four women-a nod to Nina Simone's song- to highlight three identified womanist virtues and one living virtue. The virtues are unshouted courage, quiet grace, invisible dignity and the fourth, radical rudeness. The performance uses text collected from different black women: Ntozake Shange, Stella Nyanzi, Alexis Pauline Gumbs and Joana Mamombe. It also incorporates Banyala war folk song and dance. The urgency of this piece is that Stella Nyanzi has been in Jail from November 2, 2018 for her poem used here. Joana Mamombe was arrested and charged with treason early 2019 because of the press conference she held in Zimbabwe. She was released later in the year. There are many black women negotiating their existence despite oppressive systems that seek to crush them. This is performance is dedicated to them.  

Content Warning: Nudity, Crass Language.

Photo Credit: Jo Chiang

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