Sojourner: The Difference is the Same

Sojourner: The Difference is the Same is a solo exhibition of sculpture by the Kenyan artist Maggie Otieno at Efie Gallery in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, from 23 September to 13 November 2026.

The sculptures are made from railway sleepers, distressed timbers, fragments of metal tools, joinery bolts, spanners and structural elements. "At the centre of this exhibition is the railway sleeper," the exhibition text states. "Within the East African landscape the sleeper carries a particular historical gravity." Bolt holes, cracks and weathering are left visible in the finished works. Alserkal Avenue describes the sleepers as dating back over a century.

The late Chandu Dodia supplied many of the materials she works with. According to the text, during a visit to his furniture workshop he encouraged Otieno to give the material a voice.

Otieno (b. 1974) lives and works in Nairobi. Her earlier work includes carving in jacaranda wood and pieces combining wood and metal, developed during her time at Kuona Trust in Kilimani. During the COVID period she made a series of coloured aluminium sheet sculptures. The exhibition text is by Sandeep Desai.