Some of the fondest memories we have from childhood are the cartoons that we used to watch. From stories of espionage, superhuman strength and dodging bullets to the comedy that would leave our sides aching from our laughter, they hold a special place in our hearts. No matter the genre, cartoons ultimately built within us a strong regard for friendship. Through friendship and animated art, Nancy ‘Chela’ Cherwon found her love for graffiti.
In Moi Airbase Primary School, there was never a moment Chela wasn’t chatting with her desk-mates. While they talked, she admired the cartoon characters her friends drew with minimal effort. With time, they noticed her admiration and cajoled her into giving drawing a shot. Focusing intently, she took her pencil. Using what she’d learned from watching her friends create, she ventured her first drawing: Winnie the Pooh. Chela’s joy could not be contained when, upon completion, she realized that her first try bore more than a passing resemblance to the character she saw on the screen. She discovered her hidden talent.
She held the treasured drawing close to her, and rushed home to proudly showcase what she’d accomplished. Unfortunately, nobody at home was as excited about her art work as she was. She was, in fact, met with doubt and discouragement. Despite this, Chela had caught the creative bug and was immediately and completely convinced of her talent. The idea crossed her mind in that moment. She wanted to pursue art for life. Her immediate affirmation that followed her abrupt decision was that she would never show her family her art again.
In high school, still opposed to her dreams of art, her parents nudged her towards taking Business instead. At Moi Forces Academy, Chela struggled through these classes. None of the concepts added up and it was soon evident she needed a change. She refused to let her talent stay untapped any longer. Developing a friendship with the nurturing art teacher, she began attending art classes, which launched her into picking Design as her course in university.
Her focus was illustration. Chela tapped into her childhood sense of exploration at the University of Nairobi. She connected easily with the community of artists around her and she started painting. Her friends encouraged that strong spirit of exploration. And following her paintbrush debut, she took on graffiti. Her talent enabled her to advance quickly in technique. Thus, she began teaching classes to other aspiring graffiti artists.
Through teaching, she connected with Smoki, a renowned graffiti artist who was passionate about empowering female artists within the street art industry. Being a female artist in such a male-dominated space had its challenges: outdated beliefs that women can’t do graffiti; the extra effort it takes to enter the spaces men enter so easily. Chela, unstoppable and positive, shifted her focus to the bright side of things. She noticed that communities where she would do graffiti warmed up instantly to her, offering any help she required. Through Smoki, she connected with two more “graffiti girls,” as he would call them, and they formed a crew, maintaining that title. In her independent creations, Chela shared the beauty of being African and the hope of constant renewal. Wherever anyone saw her signature portraits of African women, the themes of pride and freshness were clear.
To display these themes, every piece begins with a message which resonates with her. She searches for symbolism that can express that message. Then comes the sketching and planning of color schemes. Through experience, Chela discovered everything goes smoothly until it’s time for paint shopping. Surprisingly, she could spend an entire day, going from one shop to the other in pursuit of a specific hue of spray paint. Then, finally, the mural can be brought to life on the wall.
As a lover of her people and an artist who is passionate about her message, she doesn’t mind all the hustle and bustle involved in her process. She hopes to branch into animation and continue sharing her vision through symbolism. At Paukwa, we are moved to action by Chela’s warm and powerful artistry.
