About The Work
This enchanting Rendille lady is from a large village in the Kaisut Desert in northern Kenya. She was living in one of the ‘purest’ parts of the Rendille homeland, where their language and culture had not been influenced or assimilated into those of the surrounding groups. As such, there were elements of this lady’s jewellery that still illustrates the story of her life and present circumstances. One such piece is the long chain that runs down from the hoop near to her right ear; this is something that signified that she was married to a much older man.
Marrying older men is actually quite a common practice within Rendille and Samburu communities, and is largely attributable to the fact that men cannot marry until they have completed their warrior phase, a period which could account for 12 years or so of their adult life.
John Kenny’s black and white photographic portraits are taken on location in some of the remotest corners of Africa and India. All shot with natural light and with the subjects in their day to day attire they reveal the pride and strength inherent in traditional ways of life.
Courtesy of Capital Culture Gallery
About John Kenny
C-type print with acrylic face mount
35.43 x 23.62 x 0.39 in
90.0 x 60.0 x 1.0 cm
This work is signed and titled on verso and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
About The Work
This enchanting Rendille lady is from a large village in the Kaisut Desert in northern Kenya. She was living in one of the ‘purest’ parts of the Rendille homeland, where their language and culture had not been influenced or assimilated into those of the surrounding groups. As such, there were elements of this lady’s jewellery that still illustrates the story of her life and present circumstances. One such piece is the long chain that runs down from the hoop near to her right ear; this is something that signified that she was married to a much older man.
Marrying older men is actually quite a common practice within Rendille and Samburu communities, and is largely attributable to the fact that men cannot marry until they have completed their warrior phase, a period which could account for 12 years or so of their adult life.
John Kenny’s black and white photographic portraits are taken on location in some of the remotest corners of Africa and India. All shot with natural light and with the subjects in their day to day attire they reveal the pride and strength inherent in traditional ways of life.
Courtesy of Capital Culture Gallery
About John Kenny
The C-type prints are mounted with an acrylic face mount giving them a 3-dimensional appearance and a very contemporary feel.
- This work is framed. Frame measurements are 35.43" x 23.62" x 1.18".
- Also available at 67cm x 45cm in an edition of 25 and 135cm x 90cm in an edition of 3. Please enquire for details.
- Ships in 10 to 14 business days from United Kingdom.
- This work is final sale and not eligible for return.
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