Echoes: Delving into Chemu Ng’ok’s Psychological Narratives and East Africa’s Contemporary Art Landscape Available to Purchase

Chemu Ng’ok is a Kenyan painter based in Nairobi who investigates personal, psychological, political, and spiritual relationships through her art. Ng’ok’s work navigates the tensions and shifts in belief systems of East African societies, weaving reality and imagination to create intricate multilayered narratives. These include the act of negotiating power for the self within the institution, bearing witness to ceremonies, the search for justice, and navigating loss through the body within the recurring motif of transition. Her works are in constant flux, as their meaning changes over time and the ambiguity of the work allows for different interpretations. This article takes its title from the artist’s latest solo exhibition at Galerie Eva Presenhuber in Zurich, Switzerland. The exhibition that forms the core of this article presents a series of drawings and paintings executed in Kenya between Nairobi and Lamu. The critique delves into the artistic approach, influences, and intricate themes explored by the artist.