Wangechi Mutu

Wangechi Mutu is an artist who was born in Kenyan.  her work mainly consist of sculptors  and collages.  she is widely influenced by the African female form and uses the form in her work.  She uses ink and drawing combined with images a from magazines  collage together to create these unique figures. she uses a number of ink techniques such as a scribing and spattering which gives her work a loose free flowing feel that allows the viewer to see the artist hand at work.

Mutu, W. (2004) Hide n’ Seek, Kill or Speak, [mixed medium] Art net [online] Available at:  http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_workdetail.asp?aid=424756505&gid=424756505&cid=109930&wid=424764004 (Accessed: 3rd April 2011)

her work has a chaotic feel with all the different patterns emerging from the collage parts and with the sporadic flowing of the ink drawn lines. 

Mutu, W. (2010) Kenya’s pride [mixed medium] African colours [online] Available at:  http://www.africancolours.com/african-art-editorials/633/international/the_defiant_ones:_africancolours_calls_for_a_rebalance_.htm 
(Accessed: 3rd April 2011)

her work explores the what it is to be female  in society and cultural identity. other works of her depicted the female form being disfigured and jumbled as if the forms parts were a jigsaw placed together incorrectly. this is can be seen as a  social comment on female mutilations that was occurring in parts of Africa due to wars. things like female castration, rape and  murder were happening widely as the certain areas became unstable with conflicts from different regions and political corruption.

In my opinion I like how she has approached the ideas behind her work starting with a basic concept of the female forms and then drawing from different medium to developed and eventually create a work of art. also I like how the work engages the viewer to try and understand how the fundamental elements, that make up the work,  connects to the context behind each art work.

Otieno, M. (2010) African Colours. Available at: http://www.africancolours.com/african-art-editorials/633/international/the_defiant_ones:_africancolours_calls_for_a_rebalance_.htm (Accessed: 3 April 2011)

miss wretched (2009) wordpress. Available at:http://mywretchedconsciousness.wordpress.com/2009/04/04/wangechi-mutu/ (Accessed: 3 April 2011)

Saatch Gallery (2011) Selected works by Wangechi Mutu. Available at:
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/wangechi_mutu.htm (Accessed: 3 April 2011)

Mutu, W. (2010) Kenya’s pride [mixed medium] African colours [online] Available at:  http://www.africancolours.com/african-art-editorials/633/international/the_defiant_ones:_africancolours_calls_for_a_rebalance_.htm 
(Accessed: 3rd April 2011)

Mutu, W. (2004) Hide n’ Seek, Kill or Speak, [mixed medium] Art net [online] Available at:  http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_workdetail.asp?aid=424756505&gid=424756505&cid=109930&wid=424764004 (Accessed: 3rd April 2011)