Acrylics on canvas paper, 42 by 30 cm
Weight of Home isolates two figures pushing a heavily loaded mkokoteni against a blank space. With the environment removed, the focus shifts entirely to the physical strain and symbolic burden they carry. The cart, stacked with household essentials, represents a home reduced to what can be moved. Suspended in emptiness, the figures appear caught between departure and arrival — emphasizing displacement, uncertainty, and resilience. The absence of background removes context, making the experience universal rather than location-specific.
Wangui Waithaka is an artist living and working in Nairobi, Kenya. Her creative journey began in high school, where she often found herself sketching and doodling during talks, a quiet spark that grew into a calling. Thaka works primarily with oils, acrylics, and pencils, and is currently expanding her practice into sculpture and colored pencil techniques. Her art is deeply emotional, inspired by personal experiences and the struggles of others. She often paints scenes that tell stories of struggle, freedom, and transformation. Symbols like birds, butterflies, and flowers weave through her work to represent healing and liberation. Currently, Thaka is involved in workshops with children, learning how to nurture creativity in others, and researching mental health to inform future projects. Through her art, she seeks to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and less alone.