In ‘Hawkers’ Republic, Wanjohi Maina shines a spotlight on what he refers to as ‘no collar jobs; jobs done by hawkers, motorbike riders and other street vendors as they try to earn a living in the dynamic city of Nairobi.

“This to me is a case study through my artistic lens as well as a self-reflection of what my life could have been if I had never made it as an artist, I see myself in them”, he says.

Wanjohi’s current body of work on mild steel is made mainly using finely airbrushed automotive paints to outline these daily portraits of street vendors. He challenges himself to teleport his audience to the streets and everpresent traffic, immersed in the sounds, mood, movement, light, shadows, personalities and likeness of his subjects.

“As a cyclist, I am forced to hustle for space with these ‘friends of fate’ as they ply their trade in traffic while I cycle to the studio. I am fascinated by their creativity while trying to earn a living. You can buy anything from fresh fruits & vegetables, to electronics, household equipment, and even live pets from the comfort of your car window. Amid this chaos, I am interested above all in their contribution to the formal and informal economies of urban centres. Whether it’s the rise of Fintech companies lending high-interest loans through phones to primarily service this demographic or how eclectic and colourful they make Nairobi look.”

I am fascinated by these efforts to find a way to survive against all odds. Most of these people are not featured in any conversations in economic terms and they don’t count as micro and macro business to be included in financial policies. On the other hand, they have contributed immensely to the growth of financial solutions and facilities such as a Mshwari, Kopa Kash etc.”

Every year a million people join the job Market. Five percent are absorbed in the white-collar segment and fifteen in the blue-collar macro and micro business. The rest in the ‘no-collar’ are left on their own and form the ‘lottery economy’ where any idea is a business concept depending on how physically fit you are.

Hawkers’ Republic is Wanjohi Maina’s first solo show in Nairobi.

Born in 1986 in Nairobi - Kenya, Wanjohi Maina always enjoyed expressing himself creatively. As a child, he used to copy drawings of renowned Kenyan cartoonist Gaddo. He was also captivated by comic strips and magazines like Andy Capp, Tintin and Asterix. He later started admiring works of renaissance painters like Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci and Lucas Cranach. After high school and with no formal art education, he joined the informal job market. He started his art practice in April 2015 after quitting employment as a pump attendant at a fuel station.

Wanjohi initially pigeon holed himself as a portrait artist but that changed on January 4th 2017 when he joined the Kuona Artist Collective and further immersed himself into the Nairobi contemporary art scene.

“Kuona for me has been very instrumental in my practice, from technical training workshops, exhibitions, artist discussions and open studios. Being mentored by established professional artists and getting to work alongside them in their commissioned projects have been an eye opener”,

Wanjohi has shown in numerous group exhibitions locally and regionally. Locally, works and processes by both Peterson Kamwathi and Michael Soi inspire him. He also has great admiration for Lubaina Himid and Alex Katz.

He lives and works in Nairobi - Kenya and currently works from his studio at the Kuona Artists’ Collective.

© Thom Ogonga (2024)

Wanjohi Maina, Hawkers' Republic, 13 - 30 March, 2024.