Kapwani Kiwanga was born in Hamilton, Ontario. Initially studying anthropology and comparative religion at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and art at Le Fresnoy: Studio national des arts contemporains in Tourcoing, France, she currently lives and works in Paris.
Kiwanga's work traces the pervasive impact of power asymmetries by placing historical narratives in dialogue with contemporary realities, the archive, and tomorrow's possibilities.
Her work is research-driven, instigated by marginalised or forgotten histories, and articulated across various materials and mediums, including sculpture, installation, photography, video, and performance.
"I start with a spark of interest in the subject matter, or an anecdote I overhear, or an event, and then I do what I like doing best—research," Kiwanga states on her artistic process.
The Franco-Canadian artist participated in the 2019 edition of 1-54 London. In this engaging interview, Kiwanga discusses her curiosity towards the unknown and unlinked in our collective imagination; "I'm interested in those things that may have fallen through the cracks; everyday experiences of larger events, the invisible, the unseen, to shift the way one looks."
READ | Interview with Kapwani Kiwanga