Starting September 13, art enthusiasts in Brooklyn and New Orleans can summon the East African water spirit Mami Wata through their smartphones, thanks to artist Wangechi Mutu’s vision. Mutu’s animated creation, named “Bibi Bahari,” is the newest augmented reality (A.R.) monument featured on the Kinfolk app—a groundbreaking platform that sidesteps bureaucratic hurdles to install monuments celebrating lesser-known narratives. “Bibi Bahari” is part of Kinfolk’s “signature series” of location-based monuments, which debuted last autumn with contributions from artists like Hank Willis Thomas, Derrick Adams, Tourmaline, and Pamela Council.
Kinfolk, founded in 2017 by parent company Movers and Shakers (led by Idris Brewster, Glenn Cantave, and Micah Milner), has a unique mission. While it aligns with a broader strategy of challenging white supremacy, as Cantave emphasized in 2021, its roots lie in a desire to honor Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture. Notably, Kinfolk emerged during a pivotal moment when former New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio convened a commission to address calls for the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle1. The app’s commitment to reshaping historical narratives through digital monuments reflects its innovative approach to art and technology.
Kinfolk, the groundbreaking app that celebrates overlooked stories through augmented reality (A.R.) monuments, embarked on a residency with the New Museum before its February 2021 launch. During this collaboration, they explored how their technology could integrate with museums, communities, and art. Key grants, including support from the Mellon Foundation, facilitated their rollout. Initially, Kinfolk allowed users to view pre-designed monuments of legends like Maya Angelou and Bayard Rustin within their own homes. As they expanded beyond home use, Kinfolk dropped scan mode, enabling users to activate physical artworks through the app. Their journey included installations at New York’s MoMA and murals in San Francisco. In 2022, Niantic, the company behind Pokemon Go, recognized Kinfolk’s impact and collaborated to enhance their location-based technology, VPS Lightship, within Unity libraries.
Kinfolk then became one of Niantic’s earliest development partners, facilitating the integration of their technology. By gaining access to the extensive digital locations already scanned and stored by Pokemon Go users in Niantic’s library, Kinfolk powered its third category of in-app user experience: a signature series of geographically specific artworks commissioned from artists. Although Kinfolk aims to create an open call, most of these artworks currently result from partnerships with cultural institutions.
While Kinfolk initially intended to feature Mutu in its first signature series release, the timing wasn’t right. However, as the second standalone release, it now highlights the acclaimed work of the Kenyan artist. Bibi Bahari, Kinfolk’s first moving endeavor, unfolds across two cities. In this minute-long augmented reality animation, the East African water spirit Mami Wata emerges from the waters of New York’s Brooklyn Bridge Park and The Moonwalk Riverfront Park in New Orleans. Her dance, accompanied by water sounds, immerses users in Mutu’s captivating artwork
According to Brewster, the significance of water and the sea in African and Black culture inspired Kinfolk. They aimed to create something that pays homage to water’s role in our lives. Kinfolk’s press release highlights how myths help humanity make sense of natural phenomena, including the tumultuous seas. The decision to place the monument in climate-prone New York and New Orleans feels particularly fitting.
While every Kinfolk monument remains accessible indefinitely, Brewster also explores limited-run AR monuments that complement the medium’s ephemerality. Kinfolk plans to experiment with this approach during its annual exhibitions with the New York City AIDS Memorial, starting next year. Additionally, the team is actively exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance their project. Currently, they are collaborating with James Baldwin’s family to activate his archive using A.I. For Brewster, the most impactful aspect of Kinfolk’s mission lies in amplifying art’s leading voices through unconventional means
Sayart / Amia amyngwyen13@gmail.com
