creator
Afrofuturism has been explored in various musical, dramatic, and photographic forms throughout the years, but the film Black Panther has catapulted it back into the popular psyche.The portrayal of Black individuals in the film only helped to highlight the significance of building an alternate reality for Black people, which is something that creators like Osborne Macharia are pushing. Osborne Macharia, a Kenyan digital artist and photographer, created the Afrofuturistic-inspired pictures that supported the film's promotion. He blends Cultural Identity and Fiction to envision a new Africa, and he strives to bring his characters to life by letting them live in a dream world where they may be anyone they choose. He is also interested in making work that depicts who we are as a continent in a more beautiful light
Finding his voice
Osborne Macharia grew up in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, where he began as a self-taught photographer, relying mostly on internet tutorials and research to enhance his photographic talents. He would also create architectural models to raise funding for his ideas. He reflects on his path into photography, which began in 2010 as a result of a failed course while earning his Bachelor's degree in design. During his year off, he discovered cinematography, comic books, graphics, and the work of other photographers, such as New York-based photographer Joey Lawrence and his Ethiopian series. He was so impressed by Joey's photography that he set out to find others who specialized in commercial and product photography so that he might mimic it.
Body of work
Macharia's debut in digital photography began in 2013 when he was approached by Guinness to promote a pan-African campaign that required him to produce a series of photos that were a remake of his personal project Shujaa wa Misuli (Muscle warriors). Seeing his work on the Billboards motivated him to start developing his own style and develop a visual language that would define his personality. As a natural daydreamer, he used his imagination to start a series of narrative-driven imagery that represents the underdogs in society which includes: Mengo a photo series that features a rare breed of strong warriors who had been subjected to years of rigorous training since the age of five,
Osborne Macharia : K63.Studio League of extravagant grannies
Magadi series, a series that highlights the story of a group of former female circumcisers living in the wide saline plains of Lake Magadi. They abandoned their past practice and turned to Ethnic Fashion as an alternative income to house and educate young girls who sought to avoid early marriage.
The League of Extravagant Grannies series chronicles the stories of three elderly women who served as government and corporate leaders in the 1970s,and now use their retired life to travel to exotic and secluded parts of Africa to explore, party, and enjoy themselves in privacy.
Raising a Generation of storytellers
Osborne Macharia hopes that his work will inspire aspiring and future storytellers to tell their own stories without always conforming to the demands of the Western world. His work has already provided a platform for important messages on issues such as equality, inclusiveness, representation, gender busting, ivory poaching, FGM, albinism, dwarfism, and elderly care. His photography has continued to inspire many people all over the world due to his attention to detail and distinct sense of narrative. Creators like him are the reason the African continent remains hopeful that African art will one day find a home in the World .
For more about Osborne’s work
Instagram Osborne Macharia (@osborne_macharia) • Instagram photos and videos
Portfolio https://k63.studio/
Contributor Writer: Elsie sambu