Kenyan painter, Kaloki Nyamai has a solo exhibition titled Ithokoo masuiluni opening at the Norval Foundation on 20 November and a walkabout on the 21st at 11:00.
Kaloki Nyamai (b. 1985, Kitui, Kenya) takes inspiration from quotidian life in Nairobi, the capital city where the artist was raised and is now based.
The artist merges traditional and contemporary perspectives, creating a distinctive form of visual storytelling. His large-scale paintings and mixed-media installations intricately explore historical narratives, examining their resonance in the present. Rooted in Kenya’s rich heritage—particularly that of the Kamba people—Nyamai draws inspiration from his mother, grandmother, and the dynamic rhythms of contemporary life in Nairobi. His works reflect a deep engagement with history, weaving together pre-colonial imagery and references to modern photographs and media, signaling the ongoing conversation and coexistence between past and present.
In his latest series, Ithokoo masuiluni, Nyamai delves into the potential for new realities. He uncovers and proposes narratives of an awaited morning that promises new beginnings. The three free-hanging pieces involve acrylic paint, sisal rope, photo transfers, and yarn stitched onto the canvas, alluding to the healing of past wounds and fractures in Kenyan history and a collective yearning for renewal. This body of work is both visually striking and thematically profound, addressing the complex relationship between historical trauma, current social unrest, and the hope for regeneration. In these large-scale installations, Nyamai creates a platform where past, present, and future converge poetically. Nyamai’s work makes use of youth-led uprisings and resistance as a central theme for his works, using scenes from protest actions around the world, including Kenya, Bangladesh and Nigeria as a key visual motif.
By intertwining personal memory, historical events, and contemporary struggles, Nyamai envisions a future where healing and transformation are possible—where new beginnings can emerge and new realities can take shape. These powerful, immersive works not only tell the story of Kenya’s past but also offer a hopeful vision for a new dawn, both for the artist’s homeland and the broader regional community in the aftermath of seemingly never-ending chaos.
Norval Foundation Museum Director, Caroline Greyling, says; “Norval Foundation is pleased to be able to showcase Kaloki Nyamai’s work in our museum, bringing his work to a South African and
international audience. Nyamai’s work speak to his experiences and serve as an expressive illustration of his life in Nairobi, and the incredible storytelling power of his work presents compelling narrativesof Kenya and its history.”
And don’t forget to visit Homecoming – the funky photographic exhibition of the works of Norman Seeff and tale a walk through the Sculpture Garden in good summer weather! ENJOY!
WHAT: Kaloki Nyamai – Ithokoo masuiluni curated by Brett Scott, Norval Foundation Collections Manager.
WHERE: Norval Foundation, 4 Steenberg Road, Tokai, Cape Town 7966
WHEN: 20 November 2024 until 23 November 2025 | walkabout with Kaloki Nyamai on Thursday 21 November 2024 at 11:00am
INFO: T 087 654 5900 | E info@norvalfoundation.org | VISIT | Instagram @norvalfoundation | Facebook NorvalFoundation | LinkedIn NorvalFoundation
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