Do we still belong to a nation when we leave it or when we have been blessed by more than one cultural background? What about the stretch of one’s identity?

The work of the Rwandan/German artist, Christian Krüger, alias NUKWAMI, responds to the depth of these questions through his artistic journey. Born in Nyanza, Rwanda, he grew up between Africa and Europe, returning back to his native land as an adult.

Framed by Rwandan folk art patterns, NUKWAMI’s colorful, dreamlike paintings reflect his pursuit to reconnect with his Rwandan roots by finding the link to his identity. In this way, he draws a parallel to Rwanda’s quest to reconnect with its citizens by finding a common binding past and a unifying vision of the future.

His works are also a means to break through conventional cultural boundaries. For him, they are a key to exploring an ever-expanding self, and to dreaming of a better tomorrow