Summary

Art as Awakening

Who am I as a Kenyan and as an agent for peace? Where do I come from? How do I see myself? How do I view others? What are my shining and hard moments as a Kenyan citizen? And what is my biggest goal in life? Absame, thirty-two-year-old male, January 12th 2017, Garissa town

Art is transformative. It can open up and expand the worldviews of individuals and communities, challenging and changing given assumptions about oneself and diverse others. Artistic practices can increase understanding of different perspectives, creating greater empathy and inclusion. Art is especially useful for developing alternative visions of peaceful coexistence between people. 

This book presents the self-reflections of eight Kenyans living in Garissa County in north-eastern Kenya. Between 2016 to 2018, they participated, along with 136 other young women and men, in dialogue processes supported by the Life & Peace Institute (LPI) and the Garissa branch of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM). Artistic approaches, including drawing, drama, songs and poetry, were incorporated into these dialogues as alternative forms of expression around issues related to the challenges of insecurity and identity in Garissa County. Using art builds on the understanding that peacebuilding requires forms of personal and group reflection and expression that go beyond words and logic. It also respects and values the place of arts and culture in Kenyan society. 

What is Body Mapping?

Body Mapping is a creative art-based methodology that draws together lived experiences and visual artistic expression. It uses artwork, imagination and guided visualisation. Artistic activities are interwoven with personal storytelling, meditative and reflective exercises, deep listening, and group discussion and dialogue. The primary purpose of Body Mapping is to enable self-exploration and the sharing of personal experiences about life and the surrounding environment in a safe and confidential group setting.  

Put into practice, Body Mapping involves tracing a life-size representation of one's body onto a large surface or canvass. The person to whom the Body Map belongs then adds colours, pictures, symbols or words to show the path she or he has taken throughout life. Body Maps are typically accompanied by a narrative (spoken or written) that explains the artwork. The final artworks are often exhibited in public to stimulate broader community engagement on issues related to identity and inclusion.