Photo: Courtesy of the Artist / Kelvin Mwanza
Photo: Courtesy of the Artist / Kelvin Mwanza
Rasto Cyprian (b. 2001, Nairobi, Kenya) is a mixed-media figurative artist based at Kobo Trust, Nairobi. His earliest artistic encounter was as a young boy visiting the Uweza Foundation, an NGO in Kibera that offers a space for artists to build on their crafts.
Rasto’s later exposure to professional artistry after moving to Kuona Artists Collective inspired him to take art as a career. He talks to TewasArt Africa about many things, including what is most important in his artistic works and what he does socially when he wants a break from the solitary experience of creating art.
Photo: Courtesy of the Artist / Kelvin Mwanza
Photo: Courtesy of the Artist / Kelvin Mwanza
Anjellah Owino: How did you start creating art?
Rasto Cyprian: Unlike many youths, I was never interested in playing football while growing up in Kibera. What I truly enjoyed, instead, was drawing and painting. I would go to the nearby Uweza Foundation to engage in art as a pastime. As I grew older, I heard about Kuona Artists Collective and visited in 2016. I met fellow visual artist Onyis Martin, who took me under his wing and shared with me his studio space. This opened my eyes to the professional side of art, and I was utterly surprised to see artists make a living from art. In terms of skill, I started experimenting with spray paints, collages, and sand on canvas to get a rough texture. Back at the Uweza Foundation, art was all about having fun for me. But Kuona Artists Collective had a more serious atmosphere.
A few years later, Onyis moved to Kobo, and I followed him. I have been experimenting more with hardware materials like varnish and acids, to make certain textures.
Anjellah Owino: What was your first solo exhibition?
Rasto Cyprian: My first solo show, “Photo Studio,” was a mixed-media painting series made of collages, spray paints, and acrylics, inspired by my parents’ photo album, as it was my closest reference. I did not invite anyone to the show at Unseen Nairobi to avoid disappointment if no one showed up. Surprisingly, a large number of artists attended the exhibition.
Anjellah Owino: What other art exhibitions have you participated in?
Rasto Cyprian: Shanghai Art Fair, AKKA Project Venice, “30 under 30” group exhibition at One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, and Unbound at Village Market by Tewas Art Gallery.
Anjellah Owino: What influences your artistic style?
Rasto Cyprian: Definitely, not by trends. I continually change my style to kill the monotony. I try to exhaust different styles simultaneously, then move on to the next one. I would incorporate collages, evolve into dots, and now I am into lines. What motivates me to keep embracing new styles is that I don’t want to produce the same kind of work so that I can have a deep understanding of an extensive range of materials. I aspire to have a collection of artworks with varied styles by the time I turn 25 years old.
Anjellah Owino: How would you describe your artistic process?
Rasto Cyprian: It depends on what I feel at the moment but occasionally I reference pictures of people from the internet specifically to get believable poses.
Anjellah Owino: How do you maintain self-discipline when creating art takes time and is it dependent on your mood?
Rasto Cyprian: I jot down my goals in a notebook every day. Also, I prioritize small-sized art pieces when I feel unmotivated, and work on bigger ones when energized. I go for an aesthetic approach; I move with the flow, and it has little to do with themes. Sometimes I feel stuck with a piece, in such cases I will try to get to the same feeling I had in the beginning like going back to listen to a song I did. When I listen to a different type of music, the artwork is going to have a change of direction. Also, I have artworks that accidentally turned out good.
Anjellah Owino: How do you know that an artwork is complete?
Rasto Cyprian: I view a canvas as a colouring book. A complete piece to me is when I have filled the entire canvas.
Anjellah Owino: Which artist (s) do you look up to?
Rasto Cyprian: Onyis Martin. He explores diverse artistic styles such as working on paper and sculptures, and his work is related in some way. His approach to work is a reflection of mine as a painter as well as a clothing designer with Kiko Romeo.
Anjellah Owino: What valuable lessons have you learned so far?
Rasto Cyprian: Working alongside focused artists made me see art as a career. What matters to me as an artist, is having a deep understanding of the material. I don’t see myself doing mass production of my art to be quickly successful, as that will deny me an opportunity to grow the artistic skills that come with the freedom to experiment. Great art comes from pain. My art comes from facing life’s challenges while being patient enough to find new ways to explore my artistry and what it calls me to do without speeding up the process of wanting to be financially successful overnight. When I feel challenged by anything, I believe it means that I have yet to tap into something; or there is something I need to improve on. Being in the beginning phase of my career gives me the flexibility to appreciate the process of being an artist.
Anjellah Owino: Art creation is a solitary practice most times. Do you have any social hobbies that you enjoy?
Rasto Cyprian: I attend art exhibitions and occasionally go to the club.