At a satellite event of Engadin Art Talks in Scala, St. Moritz, artist Uman discussed her deeply personal and evolving artistic practice with Hans Ulrich Obrist. Born in Somalia and now based in upstate New York, Uman spoke about her world-building approach, shaped by cross-cultural influences, solitude, and a desire for artistic independence. She reflected on her early rebellious creativity, drawing on school walls in Kenya, and how her work is rooted in memory, identity, and fluidity. Initially considering all her works self-portraits, she now views them as independent entities beyond personal biography, aspiring for a universal artistic language. Uman also touched on her connection to nature, her years of solitude on a farm, and how she integrates calligraphy, found objects, and color symbolism in her practice. She revealed a public mosaic mural project for JFK Airport, emphasizing the lasting impact of her work. The conversation concluded with a discussion about dreams, which she often documents and sees as central to her creative process.
“I am African. I was born in East Africa. But I am a painter first. My duty is to my existence as an artist, not to a label.”
— Uman
