The Colors of Kenya, the Colors of Thandiwe.
Exploring Kenya in technicolor.
Thandiwe Muriu is a photographer inspired by the richness and vibrant culture of her beautiful hometown, Kenya. Her images: bold, playful and full of color, are the reflection of a highly influenced and observant artist inspired by everyday African objects who later repurpose its aesthetics. Thandiwe enhances her origins and makes a path for next generations to come to also discover and embrace the beauty of African roots.
We reached her out to know more about where she comes from, what thrives her and why she uses photography as a media to tell the story of “her Africa”.
Photography: Thandiwe Muriu
Tell us the story about your first approach to photography.
My father always wanted us to be independent women so he was big on teaching us various skills women in my culture typically wouldn't know. Things like how to change a tire, public speaking, barbecuing, etc. When I was about 14 years old he taught my sisters and I how to use DSLRs (a “Digital Single Lens Reflex camera) and it was instant chemistry for me. Photography is a mix of art, physics because you primarily manipulate light to create images, and technology because computers have become such an integral part of the creative process.
Every evening I would rush home after school to try and shoot using my father's old camera before the sun set. Slowly I discovered I enjoyed photographing people and thankfully my sisters were willing models. At that time, Facebook was new so it was easy to convince them to pose for me so they could get good profile pictures! Soon I began getting contacted by other people on Facebook who wanted pictures of their own and my career began.
By the time I graduated from university I had shot my first advertisement and realized I had an inclination for commercial photography. Even if I had gone to business school, I decided photography was the career I wanted to pursue.
We’ve heard that thanks to your sister being a fashion designer, Vogue was your first inspiration in photography. How has your work changed since that?
I always loved how the women looked in Vogue. The colors, the locations, the clothing all got me so excited!
However, as I've progressed as a creative, a question I ask myself more and more is how I can translate what excites me into my own voice. Kenya, and Africa as a whole, has rich and diverse cultures and I want my heritage to influence my work. My work has definitely gotten more colorful and simple over the years.
Photography: Thandiwe Muriu
How do you think photography has helped you celebrate the beauty of the Kenyan people and the culture?
Sometimes it's easy to just focus on everything that's wrong with Kenya. It can be overwhelming at times how far we still have to go and the news media doesn't help. On a personal level, my photographic work has been a refreshing break from all the negative around me, I can now be a part of the narrative celebrating the depth and richness of my culture.
Through my work I am beginning to see the lighter, more humorous, side of culture. Before beginning my Camo series, I thought beauty was just about facial features but now I'm learning it could be an expression, a gesture, a color, a pattern, or the way an outfit is put together.
For you, what does it mean to preserve and cherish your roots?
I think it means telling our stories in my own voice and from my own perspective. Generations from now, I'd love young Kenyans to look at my photography and want to know more about our history because of it. I want to insight curiosity.
Things are very different now from how they were historically so it may not be feasible to live like our ancestors did, but we can learn from their insightfulness and apply/adapt it to modern living. There is a lot of wisdom that has been carried through the centuries and it would be a shame to loose it all.
What inspires you to create such impactful, lively and colorful portraits?
In 2015 a fellow creative challenged me to explore work outside my known style and the lively and colorful portraits I'm known for came to life.
For the Camo series I wanted to celebrate the playful, vibrant and sometimes unusual side of my people. Colorful fabrics are a big part of our cultural heritage, we wear them in various styles to weddings, church and any other event that calls for occasion wear. Often times the fabrics have unconventional color combinations and quirky prints (I once saw a fabric dedicated entirely to music CD's). Depending on the region it comes from, each fabric has a story recorded in its design.
I have always been draw to pattern, structure and color. Color has a way of making an image come alive. Color can be loud or it can be quiet. It can be welcoming or aggressive. I wanted to explore colorful portraits with the primary idea of making my subject almost disappear into the fabrics, making them one.
Photography: Thandiwe Muriu
Tell us about a person of your community that has inspired you the most.
Recently I've been very inspired by my grandmother. I am more and more aware that she is a treasure trove of information that I will not have forever. I want to know all about the world during her youthful years (the early 50’s), what did they wear? What music did they dance to? How did they do their hair? What was deemed as beautiful? Hearing her stories inspires me so much.
What would be a dream come true for you as an artist representing Africa?
I would love to shoot for the big brands out there with my own style. Something ultra-colorful, full of patterns and vibrant.
If you could describe YOUR Kenya in 3 words, what would they be?
Vibrant, colorful, innovative.
Photography: Thandiwe Muriu
Color has a way of making an image come alive. Color can be loud, or it can be quiet, it can be welcoming or aggressive.
Follow Thandiwe Muriu at: https://www.instagram.com/thandiwe_muriu/