Wangechi Mutu
Kenyan
Bedroom Masks
2011
Media printed paper collage on postcard
New York
Mutu invents her brand of feminism, conveying women’s sensuality across cultural lines for personal enjoyment (Smith, 2009). Mutu redefines the politics of the female body by treating the parts of the body “like a shell that can move around and create different reactions to empower yourself, or to disappear, or to transform”(Mutu as quoted in Willis, 2014). In BEDROOM MASKS, Mutu pairs traditional African masks, some from Punu and Lipiko cultures, with images of models to urge for female sensuality beyond traditional female fertility. Mutu combines aspects of modern Western and traditional Ugandan identities to expose the constant distortion of the female body and ability. Mutu uses collages to create faceless, disfigured bodies to encourage women to reclaim their bodies through their art and their dress (Mutu and Schoonmaker, 2013).
References:
- Mutu, Wangechi and Schoonmaker, Trevor. Wangechi Mutu: A Fantastic Journey. (Durham NC: Nasher Museum of Art. 2013).
- Smith, Nicole R. “Wangechi Mutu: Feminist Collage and the Cyborg.” Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design Theses Scholar Works, Georgia State University, 2009.
- Willis, Deborah. “Wangechi Mutu Interview.” BOMB Magazine, 24 Sept. 2014, bombmagazine.org/articles/wangechi-mutu/.
