Description
In Kenya, matatus are the main form of public transportation, and matatu culture is a vibrant reflection of the here and now–including everything from music to the iconographic art decorating the side panels, as well as the “mastingo” or “stunts” performed off the side. These very special, signed digital reproductions of original woodcut prints are a colourful and eye-catching addition to any space.
This print depicts the Schizophrenic matatu, of Ongata Line Sacco traversing the Rongai route in southwest Nairobi. Here, you see a young professional woman boarding a matatu likely commuting to or from the city centre for work, while a young man in urban attire contemplates his choice of transportation. This is meant to be a feel-good piece, showing the influence of music in matatu culture, particularly reggae and hip-hop and the melding of society that occurs with this unique form of public transportation.
This is a signed digital reproduction of a woodcut print that was made using a reduction process. In this technique, a single block of wood is used, with each layer of colour is subsequently cut away after the previous layer is printed, such that the final woodcut can never be used to reproduce the same design.
