NOT A PUSHOVER. UNYIELDING. JUST A GLIMPSE OF A WOMAN WHO CHOOSES TO CARVE HER OWN PATH, UNBOUND BY SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS OR MALE DOMINANCE. IT'S ASTOUNDING HOW WE MADE A SYSTEM CAN SO RIGID, FORCING WOMEN INTO SUBMISSION AND OPPRESSION, EVEN THROUGH VIOLENCE. A WOMAN'S CHOICES SHOULD BE HERS AND HERS ALONE TO MAKE.
NYWELE (SWAHILI FOR HAIR) IS A VISUAL EXPLORATION OF AFRICAN HAIR. INSPIRED BY THE PAST, INFORMED BY THE PRESENT AND SEEKING TO INFORM THE FUTURE. OUR HAIR IS VERSATILE, BEAUTIFUL AND OH SO EXPRESSIVE. I WANT TO CAPTURE IT IN ALL POSSIBLE WAYS.
AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, I PHOTOGRAPHED THIS PROJECT OVER THE PERIOD WHEN WE WERE ‘LOCKED DOWN’ IN OUR HOMES BECAUSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC. THIS SELF PORTRAIT PROJECT WAS HOW I CHANNELLED MY FEAR, HOPELESSNESS, ANGER AND JUST GENERAL ANGST.
AN EXPLORATION OF BLACK THROUGH IDENTITY AND PLACE. AS AN ARTIST INSPIRED BY MY CITY, NAIROBI, A LOT OF WHO I AM AND HOW I CREATE IS DRIVEN FROM THIS PLACE. HOME. AT THE SAME TIME, BLACK IS WHO I AM EVEN WHEN THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS APPRECIATED EVERYWHERE I GO. I WEAR MY BLACKNESS AS A BADGE OF HONOR.
