PAINTER. KITUI. KENYA.
My Name is Kaloki Nyamai. I am 36 years, I was born in Kitui eastern part of kenya. I am married to one wife and two gorgeous amazing kids. And also I have a pet Called police very playful. I use roller to apply paint on the canvas, some pieces sometimes I use cow dung, I also do a lot of stitching in my work using the burned tyre strings this is a symbol of bringing a society that has been broken together.
I was introduced to painting by my mother. She created my first interest by showing me how to draw a face of a person by just an outline, she saw I had an interest in drawing , I used to draw on everything my school my desk, walls and all my school books. After high school I joined Art school and decided to pursue painting after trying film,fashion and music. It’s only until 2013 I realized that art was my job and my career.
It’s just a reality of my surroundings, in search of balance as a Kenyan and as an African and also as black. I base my work from experiences and stories from my grandmother, her grandmother’s past, her past and my present.
I use roller to apply paint on the canvas, some pieces sometimes I use cow dung. I also do alot of stitching in my work using the burned tyre strings this is a symbol of bringing a society that has been Broken together. It’s a sign of healing and restarting a fresh. Also use photographs of African Americans in America from the 20s to the 50s and also post election violence in Kenya and xenophobia in the south. I put layers of images as a sign of layering information. My work can be quite thick.
I start my canvases by priming them, then when it dries I start rolling thick paint on it with layer after layer. I never stretch my work when am painting.
My studio is in a two bedroom bungalow where I have transformed my whole back yard into a studio and the house into a residency space for artist visiting Kenya. My past is my motivation. I love Mark Bradford, Sane Wadu, Jack Karitawe.
For me art is everywhere and every time I see or smell or hear something that fascinates me or makes me think or question.
