Ngugi Waweru is a self-taught multimedia artist whose practice spans painting, sculpture, woodcut prints, and installation. A founding member of the Wajukuu artist collective, his work explores themes of fragility, resilience, and identity, often reflecting on the social and environmental impacts of material use. Rooted in community and informed by global collective movements, Ngugi’s art embodies a journey of self-discovery and resistance, gaining international recognition, including the Arnold Bode Prize at Documenta Fifteen.
Ngugi’s artistic practice spans installation, sculpture, woodcut prints, and painting, where he transforms everyday materials into powerful expressions of resilience, identity, and the fragility of life. Drawing from the environment, his work interrogates how human actions impact the earth and its resources. Worn-out knives, iron sheets, and copper wire become metaphors for strength and the struggle to overcome insurmountable odds. For Ngugi, every piece is a journey of self-discovery, an exploration of how materials shaped by time and human hands can reveal deeper truths about the world we inhabit.
Ngugi Waweru's contribution: kahio kugi gatemaga o mwene. 2022