(Iwapo: What if in Swahili)

In this installation, Jordan Rita Seruya Awori (JRSA) explores the intersection of AI-generated imagery, colonialism, and the complex web of influences shaping our world. Using the AI program MidJourney, JRSA generates visuals that imagine cities untouched by colonization and those shaped by alternative powers. Nairobi, her hometown, serves as a central inspiration—symbolizing both what might have been in the absence of colonialism and how diverse influences, such as Tokyo, Beijing, London, Frankfurt, and Paris, could have altered its development.

The work unfolds as a layered, 3D network, with each printed city image woven into a sprawling structure resembling a family tree. The organic, creeping forms in the piece reflect the invasive nature of colonialism, both historical and ongoing, while also alluding to the growing influence of AI in everyday life—an entity still in the process of being understood and controlled.

At its core, the installation reflects on the theme of influence—how nations shape one another through architecture, city planning, and cultural exchange. JRSA’s experiences living in Nairobi, where the lingering effects of colonialism and Westernization continue to shape the city’s identity, fuel this investigation. The work invites contemplation on alternative histories: What if Nairobi had never been colonized? What if Kenya’s modern relationship with China had become a new form of colonization? JRSA also reflects on the influence of African culture on Frankfurt, the city in which she has lived since 2020, and the reciprocal nature of cultural exchanges between these cities.

Another key element of the installation is the dialogue between humans and AI. The AI-generated images, shaped by human biases, serve as a lens through which JRSA examines those biases. She has observed that when the program is asked to depict cities colonized by Africa or to envision a Nairobi untouched by colonial history, the resulting images often carry a rougher, almost inferior aesthetic. These portrayals prompt JRSA to question the origins of these biases, ultimately seeing them as reflections of human influence. The work invites viewers to reflect on their own biases and consider the sources from which they originate.

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Photo/Video (exhibition 2): Johannes Berger

Photo/Video (exhibition 1): Jordan Awori

During the Fixing Futures exhibition at Museum Giersch der Goethe Universität the Iwapo art piece was accompanied by the sound piece Kuzani. Find out more HERE

The Ushawishi (influence in Swahili) collection explores the layers of impact that various forms of influence have on individuals and society. Through these works, the artist reflects on the origins, effects, and reactions to influence, examining how it shapes both the personal and the collective. The collection probes the factors that give rise to influence and the consequences that follow, inviting viewers to engage with the complexity of how influence manifests and evolves. By highlighting the range of responses to different influences, the artist encourages contemplation of the broader implications, both on a personal level and within societal contexts.

In order to foster the continued growth of this project and to encourage participation in the exploration of alternative narratives and the interplay of influences, I invite you to anonymously participate in the development of this work by suggesting additional city pairings and potential colonisers here.