Mathare Futurism is the first exhibition by Mathare Green Movement (MGM) outside of Kenya. The exhibition tells the story of a passionate, creative and active group of artist activists living in the informal settlement of Mathare (Nairobi, Kenya).  

The works exist within our gallery space and in Birmingham’s public realm. BOM commissioned a brand new graffiti piece by Birmingham based graffiti artist T-Bone. T-Bone worked with Kanyi Wyban, the coordinator of MGM to create an artwork that brings the communities of Mathare and Birmingham together. The work depicts angelic arms lifting up a decorated toilet block, something shared by thousands in Mathare, around this block there are several characters of Mathare; people protesting, shopping and a police officer speaking into his radio. The appearance of the police officer is a nod to the global problem of police brutality, something which the wider exhibition explores too. You can see this work in the euro car park on Hinckley Street (What3words: thus.marble.spoon)

The work has been created throughout the first half of 2020, throughout the global Covid 19 pandemic. It provides a snapshot of how artists and activists have cultivated their energy to tackle the virus and associated social problems, outside of a European / US centric narrative.