Wanyama wa Nyumbani Photo Exhibits
Exhibited at The Esplanade & Berkeley St David Crombie Park
As part of Jamii’s Wayo Children’s Festival 2024, we proudly presented a photographic exhibit by Kenyan artist Edwin Maina. Jamii’s Artistic and Executive Director, Isorine Marc, first met Edwin in 2023 while visiting Kenya for the Baraza project. It was a privilege to showcase Edwin’s exceptional talent, featuring his captivating portraits of pet animals in Kenya—some familiar to Canadian viewers and others unique to his region.
The exhibit welcomed over 500 visitors during its week-long display. Beyond its striking artistic appeal, Edwin’s work served as an educational experience, broadening young viewers’ understanding of cultural diversity and wildlife across continents. This exhibit reflects Jamii’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural awareness through the arts.
Edwin Maina is a self-taught photographer who began the skill as a hobby. Photography has become his artistic outlet as a substitute for words to convey the environments he finds himself in and the people he meets. By styling his talents, creating sets and shooting them aims to convey the African culture in a way not explored before through fashion and art photography. Being a painter since he was a child, the merge of his artistic photographic eye and working with professionals in the creative arts industry excites his soul.
Unveiled at WAYO 2024, Jamii's 5th Annual Children's Festival
It was on display from August 7 to August 11
CREDITS
Producer: Jamii
Photographer: Edwin Maina
Curator: Isorine Marc
ARTISTIC STATEMENT:
The exhibition is an exploration of the world of domestic animals here in Africa through editorial photography. We see different ways in which kids interact with domestic animals.
There's a lot you can tell about a person from how they treat animals. And this grows into a bigger lesson; us understanding that part of making sure that our children grow into kind and considerate human beings is teaching them to be kind to animals.
Animals give us so much, and our existence as human beings would be extremely hard without them.
We get to play with them, and for children this is really important. Whether it's in a farm setting with goats and chicken, or in a house setting with cats and dogs.
They also learn how to be responsible. How to take care of them by feeding and cleaning them. This responsibility translates into their own lives, from it they'll learn how to be take care of themselves and their surroundings- like their room- too.
Learning how to co-exist with a living thing that doesn't speak your words, eat what you eat, look like you do or act like you would teaches children immense patience, understanding and empathy.
Things that go a really long way in the world we live in.
My art seeks to show the beauty in our everyday lives. What you might miss because you are so used to seeing it, you forget that beauty exists in the mundane, and that the ordinary is exquisite.
Key elements of my work are fashion, and human thoughts and dreams translated into a photo.
It's capturing the very essence of what makes us be.
May this work dare you to dream, but also to take a minute and appreciate what's around you, now.
