Elnah Akware turns heartbreak into art in 'Before I Build the Fortress'

Before I Build the Fortress, a series by multidisciplinary artist Elnah Akware, examines the fine line between healthy boundaries that protect us and the guardedness that distances us from others.   

Akware, whose practice spans printmaking, collage and sculpture, says the body of work stemmed from years of self-reflection and exposure therapy.

Through woodblock prints, she explores personal themes of memory, grief, identity, and survival while contemplating the different versions of herself formed by heartbreak, disappointment and healing.

It then asks viewers to consider their own journeys of self-preservation and self-discovery: which parts of themselves they have protected and which versions they choose to carry forward.

“I would love people to think about the ways they have changed, acknowledge their former selves and remember who they were a few years ago,” she says.

The figures throughout the series are recreated from photographs taken of her during different seasons of her life for personal archiving that later becomes source material for her work.

Though she has been questioned on why she frequently draws inspiration from herself, she sees it as documenting the many stages of her life.

“I am archiving every season, whether I am winning or losing, because one day those moments become part of my work,” she expresses.

Some of the pieces in the series are Show Me Off, Show Me Off II, and Lean On Me, which were created during a period of heartbreak. She discloses that they were made during a season when she needed somewhere to release her anger and find her spark again.

She explains that Lean On me is a call to her and to other women. It is about finding your way back to your true self after disappointment

The five-piece series is created using woodblock printing, a traditional printmaking technique. Its title reflects the emotional walls she built to protect herself after difficult experiences.

The idea came while looking at a photograph of herself taken six years ago as she was beginning her artistic career. Seeing the image prompted her to reflect on the boundaries she had built through grief and survival and how those experiences had informed the way she moves through the world as a woman.

The work focuses on emotional protection while also celebrating vulnerability. She hopes viewers will ponder on the parts of themselves they have spent years guarding.

“I want people to see that even though I’m guarded, there are still softer versions of me. I hope people see themselves in the work and think about what they have felt the need to protect and which versions of themselves are worth carrying into the future,” she says.

Through this series, Akware has deliberately minimised the colours she uses so that the pieces speak for themselves. Yellow, dark green and black are the constant colours throughout the series.

Even as she is drawn to bright colours and contrast, she is still discovering what she wants to dive into through colour. At the moment, the three colours feel like the right choice for her.

Floral patterns feature prominently in her work since she wants to explore another lifelong passion.  

“I genuinely love textiles. One day I would love to design textiles and even have my own clothing line. I don't know exactly where it will lead, but textiles are very close to my heart,” she says.

Before turning to printmaking, Akware trained as a sculptor. She now works across sculpture, collage and printmaking, often combining different techniques within a single work.

“Sculpture and printmaking speak to me in ways other mediums don't. Collage came naturally because it also involves cutting, layering and thinking about composition,” she says.

Weaving is the next medium she hopes to explore. Working across disciplines has given her the freedom to experiment, though she acknowledges that balancing multiple practices can be demanding.

“I believe artists can pursue anything they are passionate about, especially if they enjoy working with their hands. But being multidisciplinary isn't easy because you are always trying to find balance,” she says.

Akware is also the founder of The Small Studio, a creative space at Kuona Trust Collective established in March 2022. After securing a small workspace, she envisioned something beyond a traditional studio.

“I wanted it to become a community space. I love community. I want people to come, unwind, make things and simply be together. The energy is calm and cosy. The space always brings me back to myself,” she says.

A graduate of fine art and design from Kenyatta University, she was later mentored in sculpture by Kepha Mosoti. She notes that sculpture takes a lot of effort and dedication and has few women practitioners.

"There are not many female sculptors. It takes a lot of effort and dedication," she says.

Among the artists who continue to inspire her is the late sculptor Mary Ogembo.

In retrospect, she hopes more women artists are supported and given spaces where they can express themselves. She notes that the visual art scene is difficult for women to break through. She encourages women to continue fighting for their dreams despite whatever comes their way.