Fatimah Tuggar

Nigeria
1967
Through her use of collage and digital technology, Tuggar explores prevailing and linear stories regarding gender, race, and technology.

Fatimah Tuggar is a multidisciplinary artist who interrogates the complexities of cultural identity, technology, and globalization through her innovative work. Born in Nigeria and based in the United States, Tuggar utilizes digital technology, including collage and video, to explore the nuanced relationships between people and power structures. Her art serves as a platform for critiquing dominant narratives and linear perceptions of gender, race, and technology. Through her interactive projects, Tuggar invites participants to engage in creating non-linear narratives, challenging them to consider the power dynamics of authorship and representation, particularly regarding modern African art in global contexts.

Tuggar's notable works like Lives Lies & Learning use holograms as metaphors to critique institutional promises, highlighting the often-illusory nature of freedom of inquiry and access to education. She expresses a unique perspective on "alternative imaginary," focusing on current possibilities rather than nostalgic or futuristic visions. Tuggar's engagement with digital objects and African identity questions the exclusive association of certain technologies with Western cultures, emphasizing her stake in computing's evolution and its materials, like coltan, which originates from Africa.

Her commitment to examining the impact of technology and power dynamics is evident in exhibitions across the globe, including prestigious venues like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Sharjah Biennial in the United Arab Emirates. Tuggar's work transcends traditional boundaries, blending art with technology to offer insightful critiques of contemporary social, cultural, and political issues.

Artworks