Thandiwe Muriu
CAMO 11
Photography, jet ink on fine art paper
60x 90 cm
2021
Courtesy of the artist and 193 Gallery

“Rising early makes the road short.” – an African proverb

Thandiwe Muriu (b.1990) is a fine art photographer born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. As a female artist operating in a previously male-dominated field, she is passionate about celebrating and empowering her fellow women. In her CAMO series, Muriu showcases Africa’s unique mix of vibrant cultures, textiles and beauty norms. Through her work, she celebrates her African heritage and tackles important issues such as identity and self-perception using the rich colors and vibrancy the continent is so well known for. 

Drawing inspiration from African textiles, everyday objects and traditional hairstyles, Muriu explores how individuals can lose their identity to culture. In her work, she not only explores who she is as an artist, but also as a black woman. Through CAMO, Muriu aims to reclaim the self-love of the African woman who is often excluded from beauty standards in her own country.

Referencing traditional hairstyles that feature beads through the use of popular beverage bottle caps found in Kenya on the hair, CAMO 11 in addition to tapping into the rich history of beads wearing symbolizing both beauty and status also depicts a sense of multiple possibilities created by the horizontal and vertical stripes of the fabrics as the model stands at the brink of a runway or is seemingly about to take off in an uplifting illusion.

For sales inquiries, contact brice@bwoart.com