| Wangechi Mutu’s drawings couple collaged parts of idealized women clipped from fashion magazines with drawn and ink-soaked passages. They are rooted in the history of Kenyan traditional storytelling and postcolonial horror stories. Subtly and painfully twisted images reference traditionally-clad African women. As a process of mutation is recognized through careful scrutiny, the images prove hard to stomach. Kenya’s past of enormous resources and privilege now faces a crisis of confidence in tackling poverty, civil strife, and political instability. This dichotomy is reflected in the work of Wangechi Mutu. |  |
Momenta Art
Wangechi Mutu’s drawings couple collaged parts of idealized women clipped from fashion magazines with drawn and ink-soaked passages. They are rooted in the history of Kenyan traditional storytelling and postcolonial horror stories. Subtly and painfully twisted images reference traditionally-clad African women. As a process of mutation is recognized through careful scrutiny, the images prove hard to stomach. Kenya’s past of enormous resources and privilege now faces a crisis of confidence in tackling poverty, civil strife, and political instability. This dichotomy is reflected in the work of Wangechi Mutu.
