Nyareeta, Artist

So where are you from?

I’m from South Sudan. 

Can you tell me a little about what it’s like living there?

At the moment, there’s still a lot of political turmoil. We came out of a long civil war and we’re actually the youngest country in the world. We received our independence in 2011. At the moment our country is rebuilding. We’re trying our best to set aside tribal differences.

How does growing up in Sudan influence your artistic style?

I was born there but I grew up in Nairobi, Kenya. It heavily influences my art in that I pull from a lot of childhood memories and I see my art as a memoir of my childhood.

When you create your art what do you want people to take from it?

I want them to have an in depth look into what it’s like living in a refugee camp, and a testament to how I coped with trauma, depression, and isolation. Just the general idea of finding your identity in a new world.

And do you think you’ve found your identity?

I think I have. It’s always going to be a search and it’s an everlasting quest. 

IG: @nyareeta