Road Runners

Despite the growing density in the cities and riots of bright colors competing for attention, I decided to zero in on the daily road routine of these hawkers. Street hawking is a common source of livelihood for some youths who are bent on working hard to eke out a living for themselves despite their circumstances.

I chose to focus my art on this set of people because they are part of our everyday life and can be seen across all cities in Africa. What drew my attention to them is the synchronisation in what they sell, the beautiful colour combination in what they wear and how they surprisingly roam in groups sometimes.

'Road runners' is about spatial interrogation of an informal trade in an informal space and public space appropriation. I painted them in a different light by using colors and shadows to represent desire and hope for the future. They are the unseen beauty on my impossible street.