Photography
#fabric #identity #Kenya #patterns #portraits #textiles
All images © Thandiwe Muriu, shared with permission
From chunky hair beads and rollers to sink strainers and brake pedals, Nairobi-based photographer Thandiwe Muriu (previously) finds fashionable use for ordinary objects. Worn like glasses that mask a subject’s identity, the repurposed objects add a cultural touch to Muriu’s vibrant portraits and relate both to his past and to Kenyan life more broadly. The red fringe evokes the pom pom that hung from his uncle’s Toyota Corolla, which ferried the artist home from school each day, while the orange plastic drain catcher references the joy of sharing chores housewives. She explains:
In Kenya, when a group of friends gathers, the women usually gather in the kitchen to clean up after the meal and, as is part of Kenyan culture, wash the piles of dishes by hand. This routine task suddenly becomes a time of laughter and stories as women mingle and bonds grow stronger… (The portrait) celebrates African community spirit by transforming humble sink strainers into glowing circles of joy .
Shot against bold fabric backdrops printed with dizzying patterns, Muriu’s works conceal the bodies of his subjects under perfectly aligned garments, leaving only their heads and hands visible. The photographs are part of his ongoing CAMOUFLAGE series, which explores how culture both creates and consumes individual identities. Incorporating rich color palettes and traditional architectural hairstyles, Muriu celebrates her African heritage while challenging beauty standards and self-perception.
Some of the photographer’s portraits are on display this month at Photo London 2022 and 1-54 Fair in New York. In July, she will also have a solo exhibition with the 193 Gallery at the new Maison Kitsuné Gallery in New York. You can explore the entire CAMOUFLAGE series on his website and Instagram.
Image © Thandiwe Muriu
Image © Thandiwe Muriu
Image © Thandiwe Muriu
Image © Thandiwe Muriu
Image © Thandiwe Muriu
Image © Thandiwe Muriu
Image © Thandiwe Muriu
#fabric #identity #Kenya #patterns #portraits #textiles
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