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Specs appeal: The artist creating amazing eyewear from rubbish

5 November 2018

Kenyan sculptor Cyrus Kabiru uses found objects and recycled materials – from shell casings to car parts – to create intricate spectacles that he calls C-Stunners. Here the self-taught Afrofuturist artist reveals the stories behind eight of his innovative designs.

Vatican Soldier (left) and Watamu Mask (right)

“I grew up surrounded by a lot of trash,” says Cyrus Kabiru of his childhood. “The biggest dumpsite in Nairobi was right opposite my house. I used to tell my dad, 'When I grow up I'll give trash a second chance'. I used to feel like trash also needs a chance to live.”

Taking his inspiration from a story his father tells of breaking his glasses as a child and being told off by his grandmother, Kabiru, now 34, saw an artistic opportunity to use the rubbish.

To me, being an Afrofuturist is a mix of creativity from different continents

He says: “For me it was a challenge to make them like real glasses. People used to compare them to masks. But they are not masks. I call them the C-Stunners. C for Cyrus, and stunners because they are stunning.”

His increasing success in the art world has afforded Kabiru the opportunity to travel and to expand his collection of found objects.

He says: “When I go to London, I’ll pick up trash. I always pick up trash from different continents. If I make an artwork with European trash, my work will look newer, so I try to combine old Kenyan trash and new European trash.

“People are now calling me an Afrofuturist. To me, being an Afrofuturist is a mix of creativity from different continents.”

Cyrus' work was showcased from 2 - 4 November 2018 at ART X Lagos, and will travel to Kochi-Muziris Biennale, from 12 December 2018 - 29 March 2019.

All images courtesy of Cyrus Kabiru.

Macho Nne, 2014

“This piece commemorates those killed during the al-Shabaab attack in the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi in 2013. The mask was made from material collected later such as bullet shell casings and Kiwi shoe polish.”

Bull Dog, 2018

“I made this after moving to a new house where you are not allowed dogs - and I had a big bulldog. Unfortunately, I ended up giving my dog to a friend. For the mask, I used a muzzle, nails, red beads and scrap metal for the teeth. It’s quite a frightening mask - that’s probably why my dog wasn’t allowed in the area.”

At the Dot, 2017

“This is made from a fan cover. I drilled two dots at the centre for the eyes, which is why it's called At the Dot. My studio was too hot, and my friend brought over a fan and said, 'You can use this to make the studio cold'. Instead of making the studio cooler, I created something to make me look cooler.”

Morocco Castle, 2016

“I recently visited a historical fortress called Chellah, in Rabat, Morocco. If you look closely, you can see the mask is made to look like a castle, and the top of the mask has been hammered to look like a brick wall. I also collected beads and jewellery from Morocco to adorn the mask.”

Watamu Mask, 2018

“Watamu is a place in Kenya where lots of tourists visit. I‘ve never been, but to me, this is what their mask would look like. My friend Mary-Ann brought me some beads and shells back from her holiday there. I think it looks a lot like a goat with the horns and ears made from TV aerials. The eye covers are from gas masks used for mining in South Africa, and the mouth piece that looks like a revolver is actually an oil filter from a car. The wire and beads inside the gas mask pieces are also from a car. I often go to the garage to collect parts.”

Tilburg Sun, 2017

“Tilburg in the Netherlands was my first place to visit abroad. I liked the city a lot, but the sun wasn’t hot like it is in Kenya. The weather inspired my Tilburg C-Stunners. I made the sun rays from wire and frames that I found there. I like to think that if you wear my C-Stunners, you will experience what it is like to be in Tilburg.”

Vatican Soldier, 2017

“Vatican City has had its own security for centuries. I’ve never been there, so this is how their soldiers look in my imagination. The star signifies the soldier’s rank. At the centre of the glasses are motors that a friend of mine carried from Italy. You can see that I have tied them on with wire. I love working with wire because I don’t use glue and I don’t weld either. For my pieces to look unique, I prefer to use wire to get that texture.”

Dadab, 2017

“Dadab is based on one of the biggest refugee camps in Kenya. I know one of the workers at the camp, and he visited my studio with found materials from the campsite including buttons, a bead and parts of a thermos flask. This was during the time that the government was trying to close the camp down. 260,000 people are living there, and some have been there for more than 20 years.”

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