Ian Wainaina
HOME IS FAR AWAY
2023 Season 3 - No But Where Are You Really From?
Ian Wainaina
Medium:
Digital and printed billboards
Displayed:
UK-wide, September - October 2023
Artwork Description:
Home is Far Away builds on Wainaina’s ongoing exploration of the multifaceted nature of identity and the need for a sense of place, with two girls gazing pensively towards the vast Atlantic Ocean and the viewer unclear on whether they are looking forward or back, to a new life or one left behind.
Artist's Comment:
This artwork was inspired by my experiences growing up in Kenya, attending university in the US, and now residing in Berlin as an artist.
Bio:
Wainaina is a Kenyan visual artist based in Berlin, Germany. His work is deeply rooted in his personal experiences of finding a sense of belonging and identity within a predominantly white, western society, having grown up in Kenya. Through a carefully calculated use of abstraction, materiality, and experimentation, Wainaina’s art invites viewers to engage in new and unpredictable cycles of thought and association.
Curator's Comment:
I love the ambiguous nature of this image. Despite the fact that, at first glance, it seems very simple and straightforward, the girls’ story far from definitive. Ian used expired film for this shot due to a shortage of fresh film in Ghana, which is risky, and I think adds to the sense of uncertainty.
