Mumbi Muturi’s Exquisite Portraits have a Spiritual tone
“My thoughts translated into portraits,” says Mumbi Muturi as I begin to view her portfolio via her website. Something about those words struck me; photographers are allowing us into their mind and sharing with us their unique view of the world. That’s beautiful, wouldn’t you agree?
I’m never one to turn down an invitation to explore the mind of a fellow photographer. Sometimes I quickly pass by and on other occasions I become fixated with the way a photographer sees the world. Once inside Muturi’s portfolio, I couldn’t leave. I was prepared to overstay my welcome and enjoy the diverse and not often seen creations that were born from her brain — her photography is fascinating.
As someone who considers themself to be a spiritual person, I’m drawn towards imagery that tells a story by blending what we know, what we feel and what we believe. From topics like Tarot reading to water immersion, Muturi is fearless enough to create work that many others don’t.
Whenever a photographer shares a portfolio that differs from the norm, I always have one burning question: why? If you share the same curiosity as I do, I have good news — we’re about to find out.
Them Frames: Hey Mumbi! What first inspired you to pick up a camera and embark on this wonderful journey through photography?
Mumbi Muturi: I was making cakes, which I did for almost eight years. I loved Sweetapolita, her photography of her cakes is amazing and I wanted to create the same images to sell my cakes. At the same time I was following The Pioneer Woman for her recipes and discovered that she also explained all the basics of photography.
So, I decided to start learning but it took me a few more years before the images got better. It was in 2016 when I started to take myself seriously but only after I saw my images through the eyes of fellow photographers. Then I found my first muse, my daughter Maya — and later Mutua Matheka. Mutua is always ready to be in front of the camera, there are others that come and go but those two have stayed.
Them Frames: The Tarot Major Arcana. This project fascinates me. How did the idea for the concept first materialize?
Mumbi Muturi: I was gifted a set of tarot cards and somehow the idea and feeling of them spoke clearly to me, I don't know if I can explain it. I started using them almost immediately and they told me stories, both positive and negative,they brought me a sense of clarity that made me want to create cards as I saw them, using my skills and my eye.
Them Frames: While the subjects are compelling, I feel the backgrounds also play a major role in this series. Can you tell us more about the backgrounds and what part they play in the story please?
Mumbi Muturi: I had to go and look at them all again because, although I take so much care when creating the images, I then forgot them and what they add to the story.
Most of my portraits, including those in this series, are taken in my compound. Lately I have been calling my home, the Room of Requirement, I always seem to find the perfect background. The red wall of my studio was perfect contrast for the High Priestess, it makes dark skin gorgeous but also gives contrast to the white. Temperance, I wanted water and there is a space nearby that had these reeds that grow in marshy areas and the green also spoke of a place of water. Lastly, The Chariot, I wanted the idea of the Sapeurs, who sometimes come from some of the poorest neighborhoods but find the money to be so extravagantly dressed against the backdrop of a less refined area, an old toilet door.
Them Frames: I take it you're a spiritual person. How does that influence your creativity?
Mumbi Muturi: I don't know how I can separate myself from how I feel connected to everything that I do. My understanding of this connectivity is what makes me want to take the portraits to expose us, fully human.
Them Frames: The next project I want to look at is The Water Nymph. You worked with Sinnitta Akello, who is a creative and artistic director. How did your creative relationship begin and what was it like working together on this project?
Mumbi Muturi: I met Sinnitta when a friend and fellow photographer, Mutua Matheka, asked me to do portraits of his wife and a family portrait. I love the way that she plays with everything, her makeup is not just in her bag but from everything around her and I love that about her creativity. I asked her to help with the Tarot series and to sit for me.
We had so much fun looking at references in the Africa Adorned books by Angela Fischer, her creating the flower horns were so perfect and her play with the white paint! So, when she came to me and asked me to photograph her model for the Water Nymph series, there was no hesitation. We both love water and plants, she knows that I love shooting from above, there is a trust that we have in each other that allows the model to shine even if the water cooled.
Them Frames: You are, of course, a portrait photographer. What do you enjoy the most about working with other people to create art?
Mumbi Muturi: I love the energy that people bring, that they are part of the creation of their portrait. I love my search for them, the truthfulness of them, this might be why I take so many images because sometimes that perfect shot comes in a blink, in a tiny moment, when they relax and forget that my camera and I are there.
Them Frames: I genuinely feel like you have your own style. That said, what influences your work?
Mumbi Muturi: My garden, the plants and flowers, the sunlight. The people that I meet, the space that they take up.
Them Frames: When you’re not creating, what are you doing?
Mumbi Muturi: Trying not to doom scroll on social media. I spend my mornings in my greenhouse, I read and I paint and draw
Them Frames: What music do you like? Please, share some artists, genres and albums.
Mumbi Muturi: My daughter Maya Amolo is a singer (check out her Spotify) so I will do a shameless plug for her because I love her music so much. . My favorite playlist is full of alternative R&B and some specific albums: Plantation Lullabies by Meshell Ndegeocello, Ology by Gallant, Aromatisism by Moses Sumney, November by SiR, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite. I will listen to a song on repeat for hours when I need to find my 'space' to center myself, I find that music will do that for me.
Them Frames: Finally, please finish this sentence: I need photography in my life because…
Mumbi Muturi: …I want people to see the world as I see it, a place that has so much beauty and hope.
You can enjoy more photography by Mumbi Muturi by visiting her website, Twitter and Instagram.
Copy edited by Sarah Jane.
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