Exhibition Review: ‘Between Us’ explores private moments in public
‘Between Us’ is an installation and live art performance by producer Syowia Kiyambi which not only gives a new form of expression to Kenyan art lovers but also critically examines the social norm that accepts that some things in life are meant to be private and also the gender roles in relationships.
As part of the audience you are immediately catapulted into the set, with the characters acting around you. The semi-silent art show only featured sounds of background music and the occasional snuffle from the audience while clothes lines filled with underwear were hung across the semi-claustrophobic windowless room. The show was borderline provocative to the average Kenyan eye with the female characters wearing the most intimate forms of clothing, normally deemed as inappropriate. Both male and female characters acted as isolated pieces of art whose main jobs were to portray the message. They flawlessly exposed the private lives that people are so eager to hide with one male character even trying on female underwear.
UP Magazine got the exclusive scoop from the art show’s PR consultant Damaris to tell us more about the ground-breaking show. “It’s a live art performance about our daily secret lives such as washing our underwear, about why we think that we must keep that in secret. I think it’s also about the reversal of gender roles, that’s why you saw the guy wearing women’s underwear. What makes it interesting is also the fact that it has an interactive audience. They work around you so that shows how the secret things that we do affect us personally.”
We also interviewed the acclaimed producer Syowia to gain more insight on the meaning and inspiration behind the art.
How did this all begin?
Well I did a piece in Finland called Fracture 1…like fracture the symbol…and when I came back, I was watching James Mweu (Project mentor and choreographer) rehearse for some work that he was doing and we’ve always wanted to work together. So he asked me to show him some of the work I was doing in Finland. That was like two three years ago and then the ball just started rolling. We had big ideas of going around Kenya and doing work based on the Moi historic period.
So how did the concept of Between Us begin?
The relationship between the GoDown Arts Centre came about last year and we did some rehearsals but then the work had changed from the Moi era concept to this concept which is much more to do with vulnerability and how you’re perceived and how you perceive others. It also explores the grey situations in the power struggles in relationships.
How long have you been working on it?
It’s a two-year project. On and off, if that gives you any background information.
Where did the actors come from?
James Mweu was in charge of picking the group. So he picked some people who were in his group called Kunja Dance Theatre and some Polytechnic students joined us as well. So you don’t have to be a dancer.
What’s your dream for Between Us?
My daydream would be to travel and do it in different places with people from different places.
Although the last live show was held on Saturday, there are exhibitions and workshops about the show that are going on until the 19th of July. For more information visit www.syowiakyambi.com
By Cherie Kihato
