Calvin Mukoko

Calvin Kiama Mukoko is a visual practitioner who blends elements between tangible and digital works. He investigates a variety of mediums, mostly focusing on practices such as photography, illustration, and fashion; delving into the realm of sustainability in fashion and investigating the concept of masculinity, parodies, and portraits, interweaving their relationship with identity. These topics form a core focus and provide a rich foundation for his artistic expression

He examines aspects such as the "rule of cool", as coined by Steve Loter, understanding that art serves as a methodology of research and understanding, a dissection of the human psyche, and how this translates to an aesthetical visual design in reference to other practitioners.

As a London-born artist, he is familiar with representation and explores the fields of identity and design. Initially, he honed his skills as an illustrator, drawing inspiration from mangakas such as Hirihiko Araki, as well as collaborating with fellow artists and designers to refine his craft.

Our attachment to portraits, avatars, and online portrayal pays dividends in regard to how we view ourselves. To critically engage with the relationship formed between men and the societal expectations placed upon them, my methodology aims to utilise a variety of mediums to reflect the complex understanding of our collective consciousness as a society and how these expectations are placed upon men. 

The format of an archival folder notes my life experiences, thoughts, and beliefs from my childhood to the present. It’s an intimate and humourous journey, holding remnants of past objects in my life which influenced my identity as a heterosexual male, despite my interests in artifacts that may not be deemed as "masculine".

We are told not to believe things or act in a certain way as historically we have been conditioned, nurtured, and raised this way. Rather than taking an active protest against these outdated views, I invite the audience to a quiet setting, where they can digest the information of my past at their leisure. This research project aims to understand the relationship between men and how we use portraits and avatars to create the "ideal" self.