FRAGMNTS - An invitation to reimagine Nairobi

In October and November 2024, I held my first independent exhibition and installation, FRAGMNTS. The project was both a personal exploration and a public invitation—to reimagine Nairobi outside the dominant narratives and aesthetics that often define it.

At the heart of the exhibition was a five-minute time-lapse film composed from over 15 years of photographing Nairobi. This archive was transformed into an immersive visual experience inside what I called the “experience box”—a mirrored chamber where the film played from one end and reflected infinitely across all surfaces. Viewers stepped inside wearing headphones, becoming fully enveloped in the city.

The audio was built entirely from Nairobi’s sounds—street noise, markets, matatus, night, and morning—and turned into a custom soundtrack by visionary producer Blinky Bill. It wasn’t just a film; it was a sensory experience of Nairobi in motion, rhythm, and reflection.

Inside the Experience Box

At the heart of the show was a five-minute time-lapse film of Nairobi—15 years in the making—projected inside a mirrored box. Wearing headphones, viewers were fully immersed in a kaleidoscope of movement and memory.

The soundtrack was built from Nairobi’s real sounds—transformed by Blinky Bill into something futuristic and familiar all at once.

From Parking Silo to Dreamscape

The exhibition took place in a parking silo at Junction Mall, intentionally raw and industrial.

We transformed it into a dystopic-futuristic Nairobi: blue walls, light crisscrossing the ceiling, sounds of Nairobi from the Matatu’s below, a surreal energy map of the city.

The reception was deeply encouraging. Many attendees described the installation as “transformative,” “brain scrambling,” or “unlike anything they’d experienced in Nairobi.” The intimate scale of the experience box allowed people to engage with the work one-on-one, creating emotional impact and genuine connection.

I am massively grateful to all the people that believed in the vision, believed in me and helped me bring this to life and everyone that showed up to take this in and share it and bring friends to see this. The sponsors who made it easier for this to happen. The Junction Mall for the dope location. The silo was perfect. Xpose who’s tech made this possible with their screens and earphones and making it possible for everyone to hear and see the film clearly. Glenfiddich for supporting the show financially and making sure everyone that needed to experience my favorite dram of whisky, did.

“A rallying call for all creatives in Nairobi to challenge themselves to create a body of work that tells a compelling story.” - Sharon

“A kaleidoscope of art, sound and the soul of Nairobi” - Makena

“A powerful escape and a momentary release” - Anyiko

Okay Africa - Capturing Nairobi’s essense (by Paula Adhis)

Mwende Ngao - Step into FRAGMNTS

Mpasho - Nairobi in the eyes of Mutua Matheka (by Queen Serem)

All photography - Mutua Matheka (me)

Additional aerial photography - Trevor Maingi

Music - Blinky Bill

Film edit - Kaesa

Sound Recording - Makasi

Production Manager - Habiba Gacheru

Exhibition sponsors - Glenfiddich, The Junction Mall, X-Pose Media

Set build & transformation - Art Siteiya

MC’s that were FemC’s - Doreen Kuria & Nyokabi Macharia

Event organizers - PinkSalt Africa