Life Is My Story                               

2024.08

In 2024, as the El Niño phenomenon swept through Kenya, the Mathare community was devastated by catastrophic floods. The police forcibly demolished all structures within a 30-meter radius on both sides of the riverbanks, leaving countless people in Mathare displaced. At least four schools were completely wiped out, and many others suffered varying degrees of destruction. Many children now find themselves attending classes in makeshift tents or relocated to distant schools.

Amidst such turmoil, we seek to explore art as a means of healing or a voice for expression. Through art classes, using the "VSEB working model" -"Visual-Synesthetic-Emotional-Body"—we guide children in painting their "safe space," nurturing their imagination and magnifying positive emotions to create a sanctuary within their minds. Over the past two weeks, we have reached 921 students across 16 schools. In subsequent workshops, we delved into the power of storytelling through zine-making, exploring how narratives can drive social change. Together, using sustainable materials, we pieced together a collective vision-an imaginative map of Mathare's future community.

"Life Is My Story." Through art, we aim to tell the tales of this wounded community. These stories and voices layer upon one another-sometimes sorrowful, sometimes joyful, tinged with pain, despair, and hope. Like the acacia trees that rise from this land, their branches form a vast, living tapestry. Layer upon layer, countless narratives are deeply rooted in the soil, continuously pushing upward.

Co-curators: Angela Omari, Changli Luo, Elizabeth Muthoni, Haron Suter, Marion Akoth, Yujia Wang, Yuxuan Wang

Collaborative Artists: Yvonne Nzilani, Mirella Moschella, Xinyue Hu

Little Artists are from: St. Agustine, Hanka, Changrong, Page Vision, Joy Day care, Breclares, Excellent Care Center, Bridge, Changin DBSA, Jasil, Kingsway, Myto, KEDA school (Caso Upendo), Genesis Joy, Recada, Vallev View, Destiny, Baraka Day Care