ArchiAfrika-April-Magazine-English-final-v2

Another submission that was full of assurance
was by Cyrus Kabiru, a designer from
Nairobi. He is a brilliant artist who currently
specializes in creating “concept” eyeglasses.
His pieces are fabricated from discarded
machine parts. They are cheeky for their
originality and breathtaking for the audacity
of his imagination. He is master at combining
familiar items in unfamiliar ways. Imagine
a pair of tooth brushes arranged to serve as
frames for eyeglasses or a pair of handcuffs
similarly reconstructed. His works are quixotic
and even though they are not intended for the
mass market, they demonstrate an astonishing
creativity that promises a lot to African fashion
and design.
It was an exhilarating
week in Milan. It is obvious
beyond argument that
ideas already exist that will
massage African design
into the 21st century. What
is yet to be developed is the
academic vehicle to expose
them to our design colleges
and technical schools. One
can only hope that this
magazine will land on a
friendly table.
The Milan Design Week was produced by the
City of Milan. The Afrofuture portion was
curated by Nana Ocran and Big Ben.
Left: Cyrus Kabiru’s Artwork
Image from http://www.ckabiruart.daportfolio.com/
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