"It is important for me to relate narrative to the concept, concept to material and material to process. My practice developed from an interest in contemporary identities shaped by an economic, geopolitical, and social system."
The Son of Fierce Suns
His recent exhibition ‘Jua Kali’ received worldwide success. Meaning ‘fierce sun’ in Swahili, Jua Kali refers to the workers and artisans who form Kenya’s informal economy. Be it talented repairmen or junkyard inventors, Karmali transforms the portraits of these important communities into surrealist portraits of superheroes, adorned by their wares.
Complex White Sheets
Karmali’s work maintains strong connections to his personal experiences. PAPER:work, explores the simple yet complex existence of paper. Paper representing nationality, authenticity, legitimacy and borders. The sheer act of papermaking echoes the use of paper at borders - extracting the pulp from the water. Embedded with photos, patterns, thread and quotations from documents taken from colonial and postcolonial Kenya, Karmali’s papers make us question their complexities.
Worldwide Recognition
Tahir Carl Karmali has had an exceptional early career. His Jua Kali series traveled around the world, in Africa, Europe, the US and Asia, and was notably presented at Art Basel and the Guggenheim, Bilbao. In 2017 he was awarded the prestigious ‘Forbes 30 Under 30’ award.
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Prizes
2017
Forbes 30 Under 30 Arts & Style- United States
2015
Editor’s Choice Selection for GuatePhoto 2015 /Displaced- United States
2015
Candidate at The New York Times Portfolio Review- United States
2015
IPA – International Photography Awards – Honorable Mention Professional Fine Art Collage- United States
2014
Kuona Trust Conceptual Exhibit Grant for “Value”- United States
2014
Kuona Trust Conceptual Exhibit Grant for “Jua Kali”- United States
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Solo exhibitions
2017
Figure 8 / Foley Gallery - New York, New York, United States
2017
PAPER:work / Pioneer Works - Brooklyn, New York, United States
2016
Jua Kali Solo Exhibition / United Photo Industries - New York, United States
2016
Jua Kali as part of Making Africa / CCCB - Barcelona, Spain
2016
Value Solo Exhibition / Brooklyn College Library - New York, United States
2016
Tumia / GALERIA OLIDO - São Paulo, Brazil
2016
Tumia part of Frontiers of The Present Exhibition / Circle Art Agency - Nairobi, Kenya
2016
In Dialog II / Photobastei - Zurich, Switzerland
2015
Jua Kali as part of Making Africa / Vitra Design Museum - Weil Am Rhein, Germany
2015
Jua Kali as part of Edition POPCAP / Artificial Image - Berlin, Germany
2015
Jua Kali / Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie - Ghar el Melh, Tunisia
2015
Jua Kali as part of Image Afrique 15 / ArtBasel - Basel, Switzerland
2015
Jua Kali / IFCV Festival International de Fotografia - Mindelo, Cape Verde
2015
Jua Kali / LagosPhoto Festival - Lagos, Nigeria
2015
Jua Kali / Rencontres Internationales de la Photo de Fès - Fès, Morocco
2015
Jua Kali / OBSCURA Festival - George Town, Malaysia
2015
Jua Kali as part of Making Africa / Guggenheim - Bilbao, Spain
2015
Displaced as part of FUSE / SVA Gallery - New York, United States
2014
Value – Solo Exhibition / Kuona Trust Arts Centre - Nairobi, Kenya
2014
Jua Kali - Solo Exhibition / Kuona Trust Arts Centre - Nairobi, Kenya
2014
Untitled / Art Cabinet - Nairobi, Kenya
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Group exhibitions
2017
PAPER:work / Art Africa Fair - Cape Town, South Africa
2017
Biennial Fotografica Bogota / Bogota - Bogota, Colombia
2017
My Collection / MoCADA - Brooklyn, New York, United States
2017
Brassage Photographique / Villers-la-Ville - Villers-la-Ville, Belgium
2017
Making Africa / High Museum of Art - Atlanta, Georgia, United States
2016
Jua Kali / Africa Reframed - Copenhagen, Denmark
2016
Jua Kali as part of “Making Africa” / Kunsthal - Rotterdam, Netherlands
2016
Addis Foto Festival / Addis Ababa - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia