Art Meets Technology: The Case for Digitizing Kenya’s Creativity
The digital explosion has taken the world by storm, transforming how we interact, learn, and create. Here in Kenya, the wave is no different—it’s evident in the ubiquitous smartphones found in both cities and rural areas. These devices, once limited to calls and texts, now serve as tools for photography, video content creation, and much more. But does this alone define digitization, especially in the arts?
Despite Kenya’s remarkable smartphone penetration, the real essence of digitization in art, museums, and libraries seems to be lagging. While the rest of the world leverages technology to preserve and showcase cultural heritage, we must ask ourselves: are we doing enough to digitize our creative spaces?
Learning from Global Innovations
Globally, institutions like the Louvre Museum in France are leading the way in digitizing their treasures. The Louvre, renowned as the world’s largest museum, is home to iconic works such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. But what stands out even more is their embrace of digital innovation. Through advanced technology, one can virtually tour the museum’s vast 73,000 square meters of exhibition space without ever stepping foot in Paris.
This innovation brings art closer to the world, offering a 3D immersive experience of not just the Louvre but also other French institutions like the Musée d’Orsay and the Centre Pompidou. Such advancements underscore the potential of digital technology in making art more accessible and preserving it for future generations.
A Glimpse of Innovation in Kenya
Kenya has not been left entirely behind in this digital revolution. A visit to the Alliance Française library in Nairobi reveals an impressive step towards digitization. Here, visitors can use Virtual Reality headsets to explore digitized masterpieces from France’s renowned museums. This immersive technology provides a near-real experience of being inside these prestigious institutions—all without leaving Nairobi.
The facility, the first of its kind in Kenya, is part of Micro-Folie, a cultural and digital innovation project developed by the French Ministry of Culture in partnership with La Villette. This initiative aims to bring art, culture, and science closer to the people. Plans are underway to showcase over 4,500 digitized masterpieces, host book launches, and facilitate poetry and literary discussions.
Supporting Digital Content Creators
Beyond Virtual Reality, the Alliance Française library houses a state-of-the-art incubator space called Le Hub. This facility features four high-performance computers dedicated to digital content creators, including animators, game developers, sound designers, and illustrators.
The impact of these machines is remarkable. Tasks like rendering, which typically take hours on standard computers, are completed in minutes here. For instance, rendering that might require 90 minutes on a personal computer takes just four minutes at Le Hub. This efficiency not only saves time but also allows creators to focus on refining their craft.
What’s even more remarkable is that these facilities are free of charge, made possible by funding from Creation Africa through the French Embassy.
The Road Ahead
While these innovations are commendable, they remain concentrated in select areas. The challenge now is replicating such initiatives across all counties in Kenya. By investing in digital infrastructure and fostering partnerships, we can ensure that art, culture, and technology become accessible to everyone, regardless of location.
Digitization is not just a trend—it is the key to preserving our cultural heritage and fostering creative innovation. The question remains: are we ready to embrace it fully?
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.
