User:Willrembert360/Cyrus Kabiru

Cyrus Kabiru (b. 1984) is a self-taught Kenyan visual artist, sculptor, and photographer born in Nairobi, where he currently lives. He is known for his physical artwork often constructed from used or discarded materials, and is associated with the Afrofuturism cultural movement.

Biography
Cyrus Kabiru was born in 1984 in Eastlands Nairobi. He was one of six children who lived in a small home opposite a garbage dump. Inspired by a story about his father repairing glasses with discarded materials, he became interested in creating objects by upcycling found objects and trash. Kabiru's self-taught exposure to artistic thinking began at an early age, despite his father's wishes to pursue a separate career in electronic engineering. Even so, Kabiru attributes much of his incentive for his ongoing works to his father and their shared experiences.

Career
Though Cyrus Kabiru's definitive career began at the Kuona Trust Arts Centre in Nairobi, Kenya in 2007, his penchant for creativity originated in his early childhood—earning him the nickname "Msanni", meaning 'Creative' in Swahili. He preferred to focus on his artwork rather than his academics, having sold his work for the first time in high school and continuing thereafter with a range of experience with various physical mediums. One of his first projects included a collection of eccentric eyeglasses that he made for himself and his friends—made primarily of silverware and bottle caps—which later developed into his C-Stunners series.

In the same year that Kabiru first attended the Kuona Trust Arts Centre, he won the Young Innovator Award by the Sandbox Network. Kabiru subsequently attended his first solo exhibition two years later at the Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art and gradually entered the public sphere with the release of his C-Stunners series between 2011-2012, which remains ongoing. Besides his production of serial artworks, Kabiru has attended various exhibitions and workshops.

Afrofuturism
Cyrus Kabiru's particular usage of discarded materials—often electronic parts, junk or other debris— is meant to evoke a sense of cyberpunk futurism with some visual similarities to African jewelry and mythology. Identifying as an Afrofuturist, he aims to construct his works in a way that combines science-fiction and traditional aesthetics, maintaining a consistent personal style. His work is praised for using its unique style to change viewer perspectives, advancing discourse amidst discussions of African intellectual fields, and exploring the relationship between the past and future. Kabiru's work has been featured in several Afrofuturist publications, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room.

Notably, Kabiru wishes to avoid the notion that his career and/or artwork is rooted in poverty; a misconception spread by media outlets due to the junklike nature of his materials. Part of his intention for his artwork is to reject the idea that these objects should be considered 'trash.'

C-Stunners Series
The C-Stunners series—currently among his most well-known sets—is an ongoing collection of irregular, futuristic eyeglass sculptures with various designs. Kabiru began official production of this series in 2011, but has been making similar sculptures of this manner since his childhood. Similarly to a considerable portion of his physical artwork, his C-Stunners are constructed with recycled materials, such as discarded electrical parts and other refuse. According to Kabiru, the name 'C-Stunners' is meant to signify the artist's name (Cyrus) followed by a statement of how it affects the audience; a "stunned" reaction. The C-Stunners series has received appraisal for inviting new perspectives from viewers upon how they perceive African culture.

Self-portrait photography of Kabiru wearing these pieces are often displayed as their own works, such as the Macho Nne collection.

Black Mamba Series
The Black Mamba series is an assortment of assembled sculptures made to resemble the Indian-based bicycle brand of the same name. Kabiru created this series as an homage to the brand, which saw considerable usage as a method of transport in Kenya, though these bikes have gradually seen less activity due to urbanization in African neighborhoods. Kabiru also maintains a personal connection with the bicycles, having ridden one himself as a child. This series of artworks has seen considerable public exposure, being linked to the inception of The End of Black Mamba, a documentary series also produced by Kabiru.

Miyale Ya Blue, 2020
Miyale Ya Blue (2020) is a 60 x 65 x 15cm. assembled sculpture made with electronic waste and junklike materials, decorated with vibrant coloration and noticeable adornments, and is one of a series of sculptures that resemble custom-fashioned radios. Kabiru drew inspiration for this series from his own personal experiences with transistor radios; this specific piece gets its name from the Swahili word 'miyale' (meaning 'rays') to invoke the rays of the sun. Miyale Ya Blue is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and is featured amongst a collection of Afrofuturist artworks.

Solo Exhibitions

 * Taarifa Kamili, Nairobi, Kenya, 2020.
 * ART X Lagos (SMAC Gallery), The Civic Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, 2018.
 * Macho Mbadala, SMAC Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2017.
 * Njia Ya Maisha, The Amory Show: African Perspectives, (SMAC Gallery), New York City, USA, 2016.
 * Black Mamba, FNB Joburg Art Fair (SMAC Gallery), Johannesburg, South Africa, 2015.
 * The End Of The Black Mamba, LOOP Fair, (SMAC Gallery), Barcelona, Spain, 2015.
 * C-Stunners & Black Mamba at SMAC Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa, 2015.
 * Cyrus Kabiru: C-Stunners, Frank Picture Gallery in association with the Ed Cross Fine Arts Gallery, Los Angeles, USA, 2013.
 * The C-Stunner, Kuona Trust, Nairobi, Kenya, 2010.
 * Cyrus Kabiru, Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Arts (RaMoMA), Nairobi, Kenya, 2009.

Group Exhibitions

 * Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room, The Met Museum, New York City, New York, USA, 2022.
 * The Pandemic Is a Portal, curated by Daniel S. Palmer, The Armory, OVR, 2021.
 * Matereality, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, 2020.
 * Material Insanity, Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL), Marrakech, Morocco, 2019.
 * Wish You Were Here, SMAC Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, 2018.
 * AFRICAN VOICES: Confronting Frontiers of Reality, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, 2017.
 * Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design curated by Amelie Klein & Okwui Enwezor, [Travelling Exhibition], Kunsthal, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, 2016.
 * Unorthodox, curated by Jens Hoffmann, The Jewish Museum, New York City, USA, 2015.
 * MORE MATERIAL, presented by fashion designer Duro Olowu, Salon 94 Bowery Gallery, New York, USA, 2014.
 * The Shadows Took Shape, The Studio Museum, Harlem, USA, 2013.
 * Phantasms of the Non-City / Lagos Photo Festival, FNB Joburg Art Fair, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2013.
 * Visiones Africaines, Perimeter Art & Design, Paris, France, 2012.
 * C-Stunners, Maker Faire Africa 2010, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, 2010.
 * Mwangali Tofauti: Nine Photographic Perspectives from Kenya, Portraits of Cyrus Kabiru by Barbara Minishi, Nairobi Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya, 2010.

Collections

 * Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), Cape Town, South Africa.
 * Tiroche Deleon Collection, Tel Aviv, Israel.
 * Studio Museum in Harlem, New York City, USA.
 * Lemaître Collection, Paris, France.
 * Han Nefkens H+F Collection, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
 * Helena Fernandino & Emilio Pi Collection, Madrid, Spain.
 * Kuano Trust – (patronage of Robert Deveroux), Nairobi, Kenya.
 * Scheryn Art Fund, Cape Town, South Africa.
 * Saatchi & Abel Collection, Cape Town, South Africa.
 * The Royal Portfolio Collection, Cape Town, South Africa.
 * Ekhard Foundation, Wassenaar, Netherlands.
 * The Met Museum, New York, USA.
 * Galila’s P.O.C, Brussels, Belgium.
 * UNISA Art Collection, Pretoria, South Africa.

Publications

 * The End of Black Mamba, Han Nefkens H+F Collection, 2015.

Awards & Residencies

 * Africa First Residency by Serge Tiroche in collaboration with START Incubator Project, Israel, 2019.
 * Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) Artist in Residence Programme, Segera Retreat, Laikipia, Kenya, 2018.
 * Quartz Africa Innovators Recognition, Quartz Africa’s Innovators Summit, Nairobi, Kenya, 2016.
 * TED Fellowship Residency, TED Talks Conference: The Young. The Wise. The Undiscovered, Los Angeles, USA, 2013.
 * Maker Faire Africa Award: Best Artist Innovation – Thinking Outside the Box, New York City, USA, 2010.
 * Young Innovator Award, Sandbox Network, London, UK, 2007.