commercial space doesn’t involve that look of vandalism. Nor does it promote propaganda and products we may never really need in our lives, but since the space is paid for, it’s deemed a commercial venture or advertising. Graffiti offers a fresh approach to public space and how different artists use that space to paint and spread their message, which, in turn, gets interpreted as art or
shared with the local
communities were a truly enriching experience and one that I will never forget. I left my mark in Colombia, but the warm Colombian people also left their mark on me. Q. YOU WERE IN ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, EARLIER THIS YEAR. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? A. Five Kenyan artists, including myself, visited South Australia in February. We took part in a cultural project called ‘Sanaa
Exhibition: a better world through creativity,’ which is part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival. We transformed a city street with our mural art. There was also African music and dance involving migrant communities from Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Ghana. The work of East African artists was showcased at various galleries and art centers. The entire project was a great way to bring life to the streets and celebrate the lives and work of Africans. Q. DOES YOUR STYLE EVOLVE AS YOU VISIT MORE PLACES AND ENCOUNTER MORE CULTURES? A. Over the years, my style has definitely changed, and some of that is certainly down to the places I have visited. The funny thing is that every place I visit I must paint. It’s never just a holiday. It’s great how you can use art to create a strong platform and move easily between towns and neighborhoods.
vandalism. It mostly boils down to perspectives and how an individual who is part of a collective society sees such things.
Q. YOU RECENTLY VISITED COLOMBIA. WHAT DID YOU WORK ON THERE? A. Colombia was a tough but great experience, especially considering I couldn’t speak any Spanish before arriving. For three weeks, I worked with La Familia Ayara Foundation based in Bogota. I traveled around and painted murals in areas such as Costa Rica, Vista Hermosa, Granada, and Villavicencio. I would paint one large mural every day, which was a hard task, but it pushed me to be a better artist. After my time with the organization, I painted murals in the towns of San Antonio and Villa Rica in a small village called Triana, located in the lush green jungles of Cali and Bogota. The reaction to my work was priceless, and the moments I
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