In front of you is an original camera used by missionaries in the early 20th century. This object is not merely a technological relic, but the tool through which Kikuyu culture was translated, framed and, often, objectified for the European public of the time.
For decades, these photographs were considered neutral testimonies. In reality, each shot was the result of precise choices, including the composition of the scene and the pose, due to the very long exposure times. Whoever owned the camera had the power to narrate the other.
Around the camera is a horizontal space for reflection that can be walked on. There is no vertical hierarchy. In this installation, we invite you to move around the device, question your position and break the glass of the frame, transforming photography from an act of capture to a moment of critical encounter.
Deconstructing the photographic process means restoring dignity to the subjects portrayed on the surrounding walls, individuals who have interacted with this machine.
Now who is looking at whom?
