A

brush

with…Kapwani

Kiwanga:

in

Conversation

with

critic

Ben

Luke

Kapwani Kiwanga talks to Ben Luke about the cultural experiences and influences that have shaped her life and work. Born in Hamilton, Canada, in 1978 and now living in Paris, Kiwanga is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans sculpture, installation, performance, sound, and video. Her practice is deeply informed by a diverse range of studies, from botany to sociology, and focuses on power asymmetries, often drawing on forgotten histories and unexpected sources. Kiwanga’s research-driven approach results in works that balance aesthetic appeal with complex socio-political narratives, using materials that carry historical, economic, and cultural significance.

In this interview, Kiwanga reflects on the key influences that have informed her artistic journey, including the early impact of the Black Audio Film Collective and how her use of hanging curtains draws a connection to Felix Gonzalez-Torres. She discusses the significance of her residencies at the Musée national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris and in Dakar, Senegal, and the inspiration she drew from jazz legend Sun Ra.