STATEMENT.
The Muses: Currency and Foundation critically explore human value, societal structures, and the commodification of identity through the lens of Bahamian lived experience and a Caribbean psychoanalytic perspective. By merging figurative art with cultural insight, Kenechi examines how bodies—particularly women’s—are objectified and how social, economic, and institutional structures reinforce this treatment. The series interrogates industries such as art and tourism, inviting reflection on how identity, labor, and visibility are shaped, consumed, and valued within a Caribbean context
“CURRENCY.”
The Muses: Currency delves into the complexities of the male gaze and its pervasive influence on the portrayal of female bodies within the creative sphere. Building upon the earlier collection, The Muses (2018), this series continues an exploration of the objectification and dehumanisation of women under the guise of artistic inspiration.
In our cultural landscape, women are often relegated to the role of muse—stripped of agency and reduced to vessels of aesthetic pleasure. Through The Muses: Currency, Kenechi illuminates the unsettling reality that women’s bodies are frequently commodified and traded as currency within the realms of artistic creation and consumption.
Drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, particularly the infamous demand for a pound of flesh, the series confronts the notion of the female body as a transactional entity, subject to the whims and desires of the male gaze. By dissecting and spotlighting the body parts that are fetishised and objectified, the work provokes critical dialogue on the influence of patriarchal constructs on perceptions of femininity, creativity, and value.
No. 1-3
8.5 x 10 inches
Oil on Wood
No. 4-10
5 x 11 inches
Oil on Wood
No. 3
27x 35 inches
Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry
No. 5-12
9.25 x 11.5 inches
Acrylic on Cotton Tapestry
No. 15
16 x 25 inches
Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry
No. 13 26.5 x 30.5 inches Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry
No. 15 16 x 25 inches Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry
No. 14 24.5 x33 inches Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry
No. 16 Bust- D Band- 34 inches Mixed Media on Cotton
No. 16 Bust- D Band- 34 inches Mixed Media on Cotton
No. 16 Bust- D Band- 34 inches Mixed Media on Cotton
“FOUNDATION”
The Muses: Foundation is conceived as an homage to Théodore Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa, a profound exploration of classism and the erosion of social contracts. The triangular formation of the figures symbolises the hierarchical structure of society, emphasising our collective surrender to the void of superficiality and greed.
The series encourages viewers to reflect on their perceptions of human value and consider how these themes manifest within the art world and beyond. Drawing inspiration from the Rorschach Test, Kenechi prompts audiences to confront the question, “What do you see?”, inviting introspection and fostering diverse interpretations that illuminate the subjectivity of perception and the complexities of societal judgement.
Through this work, viewers are invited on a reflective journey, challenging preconceived notions of value and prompting a reevaluation of societal norms, bridging historical reference with contemporary discourse on identity, hierarchy, and human experience.
No. 17
42 x 50 inches
Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry
No. 20 “ Foundation”
x inches
Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry
No. 18
50 x 56 inches
Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry
No. 69 - “Foundation”
52 x 78inches
Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry
No. 19 - “Raft of the Medusa”
10 x 7 foot
Mixed Media on Cotton Tapestry