Artist turns her body into canvas

By Emmanuel Mwendwa

Canvases, walls or other public spaces are the typical platforms artists use to express creative ideas. But Kenyan born German video artist has achieved international recognition through a rare form of art — using her body as a canvas.

Ingrid Mwangi uses parts of her body, face, hair and torso, to draw attention to her works that tackle deep-seated social issues.

"My body is the only thing that I own...I react, interpret and question the cliches and stereotypes which faced me...I use art to awaken consciences and stir awareness," she asserts.

Ingrid and husband Robert Hutter. Photo: Emmanuel Mwendwa/Standard

One only needs to encounter her thought-provoking artworks to understand why she uses her body as imagery, effectively complementing her creative projections.

"On numerous instances, I tend to use my body and voice to create pieces that interrogate intercultural social and political transactions discovered through my self-replicated African and European background," she notes.

Expanding fortune

A constant theme in her work is the relationship between violence, memory and identity.

"These are aspects, which I consistently single out as being composed yet uncontrollable forces that audiences have to engage with. I share my feelings within street performances," she asserts.

She has severally been referred to as "a proverbial voice from the wilderness."

Her video installations seek to confront or dispel ingrained cultural stereotypes. In a way, her works send her audiences into self-reflection, challenging them to come to terms with their inner selves.

Subsequently, the video artist has earned acclaim for embracing a critical stance — constantly setting the tone for contemporary African artists’ quest to explore their social and private identities.

On a broader perspective, IngridMwangiRobertHutter has been at the forefront of local art scene, facilitating numerous workshops over the past five years.

"The objective is to offer Kenyan artists an alternative platform for expression, sharing knowledge of manipulating video art and creating tangible links between African artists in the Diaspora and Africa," notes Ingrid.

Her video art projects and installations have also been showcased at the Godown Arts Centre and National Museum of Kenya.