Graffiti Girls Kenya are painting murals that are gracing the walls of creative hubs and community centers. Even though the murals are bright with color, the themes of these works cover a wide range of societal ills.
This mural features a young woman in bold colors with a hand covering her mouth. According to the Graffiti Girls, the mural depicts how many women are afraid to speak out about violence they face on a daily basis.
The Graffiti Girls Kenya initiative was formed back in 2015 by Douglas Smoki Kihiko, a renowned artist from Kenya. The point of the program was to create a space for women to learn the impact of advocacy through art.
Twenty-two year old Graffiti Girl artist Njeri Wahome, who lives in Langata, Nairobi, retaliated that most women artists are not taken seriously as they are seen as “women” instead of artists. Nzilani, who goes by yvonne-nzilani, said being a female graffiti artist in a predominantly “patriarchal society” is challenging but she has always worked hard on her craft. “I do it for the passion I have. I want people to have hope once they see my murals on the streets or in the creative hubs, Nzilani said.” The mural can fail to impact someone immediately, but there comes a time when that mural will have an impact on someone’s life. “
There is a lot of thought and preparation behind these pieces of work. The process of creating a mural begins with a weekly meeting with research on issues affecting the community, a conversation where girls share their experiences and have deep discussion on the issues. They then do sketches and create murals in the afternoon.
Nzilani is a relatively new comer to the space. She started painting in 2018 when she met her mentor Joan Otieno. It has not been a smooth journey for her, mainly due to resistance from her parents — who don’t see art as a noble profession — and building owners who demand money to let her paint on the walls. Despite the challenges, Yvonne has continued to stay positive about her work.
Nelly Bradbury, 22, recognized her talent while in high school and started doing graffiti art after she confided in one of her friends who introduced her to Graffiti Girls Kenya. Since then, Bradbury has never looked back. Speaking on her work now, Bradbury talks about the importance of the message they’re trying to get across, especially around issues that are so pressing.
Gender based violence has become a silent pandemic across the world with reports indicating that 1/3 of women will experience some form of violence in their lifetime. In Kenya, the most recent government report (from 2014) shows that 45 percent of women and girls between the ages of 15-45 have faced physical, mental or sexual violence and many cases go unreported.
Bradbury sees public art as a crucial venue to address Gender Based Violence.
Source : okayafrica.com
