An Art Installation: Harambee 63 by Wambui Kamiru
A new art installation by Wambui Kamiru, artist and poet, opened this Thursday (From Sept 5th -20th) at the Kuona Arts Centre. Dubbed, ‘A Project about African Revolutions and Ordinary People’, the interesting installation uses gumboots and videos in an unusual setting, to trigger thoughts and conversations regarding issues we (Kenyans) hold dear as a nation, and our individual potential and capacity of taking action when needed. From Gandhi and Shaka, to modern day heroes in Kenya - political or non-political, the project will raise different subject matters about whom we consider revolutionaries, while touching on Africa’s vast history.
“I have been collecting data on the subjects for the pieces and I have found a lot about our continent,” confirmed Wambui, stressing that it’s important that all Kenyans get this info, “especially in this period of time as Kenyans begin to place our independence in the greater global fight for “Coloured” people’s rights. One of the examples of the stories Wambui means will be brought to life via her installations is the recent ruling on the Mau Mau compensation case which “opens a new chapter on the recognition of violations against “coloured” people by former colonial nations,” she notes.
The installation’s profile read: The project calls into question ideas we hold about our individual roles and capacities in times where bravery and action is required. All so-called revolutionaries are ordinary people but these ordinary people changed the world. By taking something as ordinary as gumboots, which have a history in war, I would like to show that we all have the capacity to change the world even as we are ordinary. In the same way, ordinary people are also locked in cyclical wars. THERE IS LITTLE DISTANCE BETWEEN A GUERRILLA SOLDIER AND A STUDENT FOR EXAMPLE.
Make sure you get some time to go view Harambee 63 at Kuona Trust and also follow on the Twitter conversation via #Harambee63 or Like Facebook Page: Harambee63. Read more on Wambui via www.wambuikamiru.wordpress.com
Writer: Anyiko Owoko
