Anu Muiste

Kalenjin legs

An artefact reflecting the environment - a soft sculpture

Waste type: Rivatex textile post-processing scrap

As a circular designer and artist, I looked at the environment and tried to understand what was important to the people living in the city of Eldoret, Kenya. What are their values ​​and what are they proud of? While visiting the sports competition with the locals, it quickly became clear that running is in the hearts of Kenyans.

Eldoret region is home to five major tribes: Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo and Kisii. The Kalenjin tribe is called "the running tribe" because it is from this tribe that the most elite runners come. The most famous name combination KIP means that the man is from the Kalenjin tribe, for example, the famous local runners Kipchoge, Kipkeino and Kiptum. The Kalenjin tribe is further divided into nine sub-tribes, and among them the most runners come from the Nandi tribe.

The sculpture is accompanied by the locally recorded sound piece "What is the most important thing in your life?".

"Kalenjin legs" are made from postproduction scrap from Rivatex textiles. The filling material was wadding, a leftover material from pillows sourced locally in Estonia, which was intended for burning. After the exhibition, it is planned to reuse the material of the sculpture in a new creative project. This artifact is created following circular principles. Circular Art is constantly changing and will never be completely finished. Forming different shapes and creating new meanings, but constantly connected to the previous form. Becoming like a living organism that evolves, grows and shrinks until it reaches its natural end or stagnates.

Special thanks to: Elkana K Terer, Charles Lagat, Ruth Muhonja, Veronica, Aspel KIP Lagat, Joseph, Cecilia Che belli, Audri, Josaphat Igadua, Martin Vuks, Eero Muiste and Mother.