Kenyan artist Bhupi Jethwa, famously known as WiseTwo, expanded his contemporary motifs from Nairobi streets to 15 other countries globally.
His journey to becoming a multi-disciplinary artist started in 2012, when he plastered graffiti in Kibera and Jericho, breathing life into the mundane surfaces of the buildings.
Jethwa incorporated vibrant colours in his murals to capture the attention of passersby in the busy Nairobi streets, beseeching them to marvel at his skills. The artist embraced observational learning after experienced graffiti artists took him under their wing.
He sharpened his skills over time by watching his friends convert blank canvases and lifeless walls into enchanting murals. Fascinated by their creativity, Jethwa started painting with Kibera and Jericho as his base.
"I saw my friends painting graffiti and I loved it, especially I liked to understand that part of rebellion that is in the art of painting," the artist stated.
"When you are a teenager, everyone is rebellious. You want to go against the system, and create something for yourself. I wanted to be different. I didn’t want to do what everyone else was doing," he added.
Jethwa faced stiff opposition and restrictions from the law enforcement authorities, who had threatened to subject him to punitive penalties for breaking city laws.
Driven by determination, he gained fame, especially in corporate graffiti, where he blended traditional and contemporary motifs.
Nairobi Street Kitchen, owned by Alyana and Alyssa Popat, is one of the areas where he was allowed to express his artistic creativity.
Alyana and Alyssa, daughters of renowned businessman Adil Popat, trusted Jethwa, with beautifying Nairobi Street Kitchen, one of the most 'instagrammable' projects in the entire East African region.
Besides Nairobi Street Kitchen, Jethwa's works are imprinted at Alchemist, a popular entertainment joint in Westlands, Nairobi.
He also created a plethora of work, from collages, watercolours and paintings, which are strategically placed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), and United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Nairobi.
Other than Nairobi, his other murals can be traced to Converse Head Offices in Mexico City, and Michael Goldstein Law Offices in the USA.
The contemporary artist has further painted on walls in remote villages, cities and iconic buildings in Austria, Germany, Uganda, Cuba, Sweden and Columbia.
"I like to paint masks because we all wear masks in our daily lives, for interactions, to meet people. We have a lot of shadows and darkness, but also a lot of light. It depends on the mask you wear," the artist stated.
In a past interview, he revealed that he paints to reinforce his narratives and perspectives of balance. He added that he implores symbols to allow viewers to meditate on his ephemeral and eternal creativity.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, in March 2022, was impressed by Jethwa's paintings in Nairobi, including how he transformed a mundane Nairobi Street Kitchen into an exquisite piece of artistry.
