Kwaga Sillingi

Kwaga is a painter who combines paper collages and acrylic to create bold large-scale paintings. Through her practice, Kwaga repeatedly explores densely layered colour combinations and formations of circular shapes. Working across four paintings at a time, Kwaga has developed her own systematic painting process; initially collaging pre-painted circles into ordered patterns as a base layer before applying varying layers of paint. Each layer has its own unique approach. Over time the patterns laid down have shifted from tight order into looser, diagonal formations with layers of thick painterly loops. The work gradually evolves as Kwaga confidently applies thick brush marks, revelling in the rich colours and paint texture. As each layer is added the underlayer of collaged circles disappears, leaving an echo of dense, looped circles.