An Indie Cities profile:
Dickson Kaloki is a creative powerhouse, dabbling in fashion design, film, music, and sculpture. Raised in the Mukuru Kayaba slum in Nairobi, Dickson was forced into creativity from a very young age and reflects on making his own toys. "I fell in love with the slums from as far back as I can remember".
Painting the slums was an escape for him. It was artistic expression without thought for commercial value but it has turned into a professional career. Painting the slums combines his history and upbringing with a fascination about the uncertain future of the slums. "In 50 years, the slums will be no more." Kaloki says. His paintings document this moment in Nairobi's history.
In this episode of INDIE CITIES, we travel to the Mukuru slum, where Dickson grew up, and see him sketch out the plans for his latest artwork. We then visit his current art studio at the Kuona Trust and see his unique creation process.