“My goal is to recreate African mythologies and bring back the storytelling of our ancestors.”
I was first introduced to her work via a friend’s snapchat stories. Captivated by a mastery of craft, I extended my plans to experience the art exhibition myself on the next day, and it was a breathtaking experience. The art of Natasha Karungi, better known as Kashushu mingles your imagination, emotions and psychology. It’s like understanding a language you cannot communicate in. It’s both ancient and modern, fragile but boldly inviting with intrigue. She goes into a conversation with Glim about what it means to be herself, and do what she does in a male dominated industry. One thing is clear, the queen is here to stay.
Qn. Who introduced you to Art, and what was your first experience?
It is hard to pinpoint exactly which point in life because I have always had a relationship with art. I usually describe it as the most intimate relationship in my life. I started drawing when I was a child. I had a lot of Barbie story books and I would replicate them and make stories of my own. In primary school, I was very shy and introverted, so I coiled within myself and art was my mode of expression which attracted me to people, regardless of my social anxiety. I have always been an artist and there isn’t a moment I never felt like I was one. Interacting with artworks by Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Henry Matisse & Yayoi Kusama for the first time in 2017 changed my perspective around my style of art tending to realism, to blends of surrealism and cubism. I had always focused on drawing the perfect anatomy other than storytelling, but after interacting with such work where perfection was overridden by storytelling, I decided to free myself from the shackles of realism and tend more to abstract surrealism.
Qn. Why digital art?
My interest in digital art arose after I entered the NFT space back in March 2021. Growing up, I didn’t have any artistic figures around me and I never thought being an artist was a professional possibility so I dreamt of being a fashion designer of a big fashion brand. Then I tried to pursue fashion design, which went well, but I won’t lie, it got boring for me not because I don’t love fashion, but because I was more interested in the artistic rather than design bit of it. When I got into the NFT space, I was introduced to a world where artists were just artists. Art was appreciated because it was art and that changed my life. Through the NFT space, I discovered the “Art world” through which digital art was exhibited and auctioned through different platforms and communities. After joining the NFT community as a web3 artist, I then discovered the Uganda art scene which I, for so long, never knew existed. And after discovering my tribe, I know I am going to be in the Art scene till infinity.
Art by Natasha Karungi
Qn. What was the vision behind your latest collection ‘Okushururirwa’ and how long did it take you to put it together?
‘Okushururirwa: Revelations in Color’ is my latest solo exhibition that happened last year 18/011/2022 – 18/12/2022. The word “Okushururirwa” is a native word from my mother tongue “rukiga” that roughly translates to “revelations” or “to be revealed to” or “to reveal a dream”. It’s a curated collection of over 50 pieces that were all done over a scope of two years. It’s a range of different artworks and shows my growth as an artist and individual with each piece telling a different story. The reason I called it “revelations in color” is because being an artist is a dream that I had since time memorial and being able to finally showcase and debut my work was my symbolism for all my past, present and future dreams yet to come true. It’s a compilation of portraits, imaginative compositions, manifestations and stories of gratitude and evocations of emotions.
“My goal is to recreate those mythologies and bring back the storytelling of our ancestors.”
Qn. What aspects of society inspire the metaphors and symbolism portrayed in your art?
Identity, Fashion, Romance, Femininity and Mythologies inspire me most. I grew up watching a lot of Greek and Roman mythologies to a point where I was obsessed. If you look closely, you will see these heavily influencing my work. However, during my exhibition I was asked a question that sparked other questions about why I depicted versions of western mythologies rather than depicting African mythologies themselves. And this is because most of our history and stories were erased post colonialism and we remained with just bits and bits. So my goal is to recreate those mythologies and bring back the storytelling of our ancestors. I like this quote from my favorite Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie “People make Culture. Culture doesn’t make people”
I also toggle themes around identity in my work where I purposely strip the characters of the qualities that society describes as identity using abstract shapes and patterns. Who are you if you aren’t male or female. Black or white. Radical I know, but I believe we are more than what we’re accustomed to be. I’m also a romantic who finds romance to be fun and cute. It’s a bubbly feeling that I can’t explain through words so I explore it visually.
“I purposely strip the characters of the qualities that society describes as identity using abstract shapes and patterns. Who are you if you aren’t male or female. Black or white.”
Qn. How long does it often take to create each piece, and what goes into it?
That really depends. Some of my pieces take months to complete and while others take a few hours.
Art by Natasha Karungi
Qn. What advice do you give young creatives eyeing a spot in this space?
Believe in yourself. The Bible says “Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains”, the belief that you have of the ground not collapsing under your feet when you’re walking is the same belief you should have in yourself that your work is important and is worth it, you are worth it!
- Keep creating consistently.
- Set goals for yourself.
- Take every opportunity you get to talk about your work
- Take up space
- Social media is your best friend. Use it to your advantage.
- Always find the fun in creating. Creating won’t always be fun and you won’t always love it but with consistency comes habit. Once you make creating a habit, you’ll move places without realizing it. Lastly, treat creativity like how you would treat a child. Feed them everyday and watch your creativity grow gradually. With time it will pour back into you.
- Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is part of life but it’s the consequence of failure that matters. Do you take it as an opportunity or a barrier? Failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Dare to dream. Aim for the stars so that you can land on the moon
Qn. Has being a woman influenced your work in any way?
I believe it definitely has. Art is a male dominated industry and so is tech so being in both Art and Tech is jarring for me as a female African artist. But to the contrary, I don’t see my position as one of weakness but of strength. Would I be farther in my career as a man?, probably, but I guess we’ll never know. Being a woman has a lot of influence on my work because I’m a feminist and I love showcasing women in positions of power, love and comfort. I love being a woman and supporting women.
Qn. What do you dream for yourself when you think about the future?
When I think about my dreams and the future, I see a lot of things. I see myself as a world renowned artist whose work is being exhibited in every gallery in the world. I see my work changing lives and making a mark in the history books. I see my work leading to new inventions and innovations not just in the art world, but in Fashion, BioTech, Longevity, Artificial Intelligence and Social networks. I want Digital Art to be a major part of the heavily funded educational sectors in Uganda and East Africa especially since we are witnessing the rise of a digital era. When I think about the future, I think about parents being proud to announce that their child is an artist. Where artists can be just artists and that’s enough, just like how lawyers can just be lawyers.
The work of Kashushu can be accessed and purchased through her website here. Follow her journey and contact her through various social media platforms listed below.
Instagram: @kkshushu
Twitter: @gangster_B
Website: kashushu.art
