Elnah Akware
Elnah Akware is a visual artist based in Nairobi who works with sculptures and woodcut prints. Her work is decorated with minimal elements of patterns and colour. Elnah expresses how she got into her art career, her major artistic influences, and how art has impacted her personal growth.
How did your artistic journey begin?
I knew I wanted to be an artist from the time I was in primary school. In high school, I studied art before undertaking a degree in fine art and design at Kenyatta University (KU). In 2019, I joined the art scene professionally as a member of the Kuona Artists Collective.
With a background in printmaking as one of my majors at KU, I gave myself a chance to create woodcut prints in 2020.
My dream to see my work on fabrics is being fulfilled as we speak after partnering with a fashion business. We have a cordial working relationship and believe in me, but I have moments where I question what I did to deserve this kind of success within such a short span of two years.
What is your typical creative process like?
I hear about people who have an idea and start creating immediately. For me, I need to plan first, so the first thing that I do when I get to work is to note down ideas on what to work on. I will then sketch patterns on carbon paper, transfer them to a board, and print them. Currently, I am researching different types of mushrooms for a series I have been exploring since 2020, and this is how my days have been. When it comes to conceptualizing ideas for my sculpting work, the original shape of a log of wood easily informs me of what to achieve before I start to sculpt.
What themes does your work carry, and what informs them?
For now, my work revolves around me, my childhood background, and things that resonate with me, drawn from my identity and everyday life. My love for nature and simplicity is central to my art. In fact, Mother Nature is my greatest research element in both my sculpting and woodcut printmaking practices. I give myself an opportunity to think when I immerse myself in nature.
In what other ways do you create meaning in your work?
However much my work centers on me, I also think about the world, my audience, and my colleagues during my creative process. I hope to motivate people through my art. I hope someone gets calm energy and positivity through colour, texture, patterns, shapes, or lines. I hope to inspire the younger generation of artists behind me.
What has your experience been like as a sculptor?
Even with sculpture as my first love, it felt strange for me to pursue it as an art form. The sculpting world and the art scene as a whole are male-dominated. In my opinion, a woman must exert twice as much effort as a man in any medium. To date, I have sold more woodcut prints than sculpture, and this has shown me that there is more to be done for the art form to grow. I want to move it forward from where the veterans left it so that the next generation of artists can find something when they join the scene. Knowing that I may inspire someone one day prompts me to sculpt.
What themes does your work carry, and what informs them?
For now, my work revolves around me, my childhood background, and things that resonate with me, drawn from my identity and everyday life. My love for nature and simplicity is central to my art. In fact, Mother Nature is my greatest research element in both my sculpting and woodcut printmaking practices. I give myself an opportunity to think when I immerse myself in nature.
In what other ways do you create meaning in your work?
However much my work centers on me, I also think about the world, my audience, and my colleagues during my creative process. I hope to motivate people through my art. I hope someone gets calm energy and positivity through colour, texture, patterns, shapes, or lines. I hope to inspire the younger generation of artists behind me.
What has your experience been like as a sculptor?
Even with sculpture as my first love, it felt strange for me to pursue it as an art form. The sculpting world and the art scene as a whole are male-dominated. In my opinion, a woman must exert twice as much effort as a man in any medium. To date, I have sold more woodcut prints than sculpture, and this has shown me that there is more to be done for the art form to grow. I want to move it forward from where the veterans left it so that the next generation of artists can find something when they join the scene. Knowing that I may inspire someone one day prompts me to sculpt.
Which artists’ works have you been enjoying and why?
I love Onyis Martin’s oil paintings of male figures, Mosoti Kepha’s large-scale sculptures, Meshack Oiro's recycled junk pieces, and Muraguri’s style of execution and use of colour. For me, colour portrays a range of emotions. When I started working on woodcut prints, I would ask Muraguri to guide me on what colours to use. My audience has told me that I am good with colours but it definitely took me time to know how to mix them.
I love Russian artist Elina Elagina’s art. Weirdly enough, she also works with mushrooms, like I do. Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is one of my biggest inspirations in the printmaking world and has been doing a series of polka dots. I admire her for her simplicity. When I started working with mushrooms, I doubted my abilities. I wondered, "Who will love my work?" "It is just mushrooms; will it ever be in a gallery?" After checking Kusama’s Instagram page, I was encouraged to embrace my simplicity.
What challenges do you go through, and how do you work on addressing them?
The biggest challenge for me is finances. I want to land more jobs, own a home studio, and merchandise my work to make a consistent livelihood. The other challenge is that my family has never accepted my career in art. Society still looks down upon art as a career.
How do you stay motivated when facing challenges?
The fact that opportunities have come my way regardless of these challenges tells me that I am doing something right. I was a guest artist at Kobo Trust in July 2022, and I have done commissioned work for people who have told me that I was the right person for that job. Receiving compliments from fellow artists and clients helps me stay motivated.
Has your art deepened your sense of personal awareness or growth?
Oh yes, I feel like talking about my work has made me know more about myself. My emotional communication skills have improved. I have learned to become less shy and be vulnerable through my art and in my one-on-one interactions. My friends and father have told me that I am not the same person.
What pieces of advice would you give a new professional artist?
Put yourself out there. Do not be scared of being vulnerable, chasing your dreams, and pushing yourself beyond the limits. There are people with good and bad character; figure out what kind of people you want to work with. Lastly, do not be in a rush to sell your art.
