Artist Feature: Kylie Marume
Kylie Marume is a UK-based artist specializing in painting female figures often combined with nature to destigmatize the female body and to simultaneously depict stories defying societal norms and behavior. Her practice is versatile with works consisting of oil paintings and digital depictions.
“My paintings are in defiance of what I did not want to conform to in my journey of self-awareness and acceptance. I reject the idea of compromising myself and presenting my body so it is acceptable. The nudity in my work is to destigmatize and desexualise the natural female body in various forms. The viewer is meant to get used to seeing the abundance of female bodies in my work. Through the symbiotic relationship depiction of female bodies and nature, I believe nudity to complement physical nature where bodies are presented in their beautifully raw and vulnerable state.”
Illustrations by Kylie Marume
Q: Can you share something you've learned from creating this body of work that would resonate with our community?
KM: Needing to feel comfortable in my own skin became more apparent, and creating these works helped in my journey of acknowledging my validity. I’m sure many of us relate to feeling trapped and constantly scrutinised by the internalised male gaze and self-assurance is not a linear progress. The abundance of bodies in my work is meant to normalise our beautiful presence in various scenarios, particularly the presence of Black women. My works are also storytelling by confronting issues that need to be confronted, I avoid a one-size-fits-all approach so different groups of people can feel seen and understood through my confronting art, however, they think their personal experiences fit. I also feel the importance and dependence on women for holding our society together can be linked with the nature we thrive from, supply from, and take for granted. Linking women with the natural environment is to highlight our significance in this world regardless of the level of appreciation received and can be empowering to many women who in general feel unseen.
Q: Tell us about your work process! Do you plan your images ahead or are you more improvisational?
KM: My work process varies. Sometimes, I choose a canvas and allow my ideas to flow as I go. On my storytelling pieces, however, I tend to plan the work by starting off with a rough sketch on a device, then I start to build up by developing the sketch, often with photos, drawing around them, and listing ideas on the way. Having a rough visual representation along with ideas gets me inspired and excited about the idea and the possible outcome. My planned pieces tend to be more blatant in interpretation and also confront what occurs in our world. My improvised pieces tend to not be as confronting with some sort of “meaning” popping into someone’s mind, they mostly simply appreciate the presence of bodies in nature.
Illustrations by Kylie Marume
Q: What types of expectations for artists are most challenging to you today?
KM: I often feel like a middle woman who wants to confront a problem visually and acknowledges the consequences but still does it anyway. It didn’t help also growing up in an environment where the opinions of other people matter and supposedly define you and/or your family. I always tried to separate myself and my art from that, and have to break past skepticism, entitlement, lack of understanding, negativity, and guilt-tripping (the list goes on) so I don’t create work purely to cater to other’s standards and be digestible. It’s challenging because my works are often deemed as storytelling and confronting (which they are - purposefully), and sometimes I feel as though I have to retract despite knowing that would be detrimental to my growth. When I’m confronting a subject, I have to remember I can’t please everyone and that not everyone will understand or is willing to understand or resonate with what I made and should still tell my story regardless.
I dislike the idea of creating work that fits people’s ideals of what art is and should be, and I refuse to let people dictate how my experiences should be portrayed and the validity of them. The entitlement of peers or audience can be poisonous, and maintaining full autonomy over my methods of storytelling is undeniably the overall challenge.
Q: What is your advice to young and aspiring photographers and environmental activists?
KM: Inclusivity and accountability where necessary is essential. Embrace growth in your storytelling and always be willing to learn more to help inform your practice and help you grow even more.
Q: Do you have any upcoming events, exhibitions, or news you'd like to share?
KM: I have listed limited and open artwork prints on www.kyliemarume.com
Illustrations by Kylie Marume
Q: What does being a feminist mean to you?
KM: To me, being a feminist is to always seek improvement in myself and to challenge anyone that tries to put me in a box. To be a feminist is to defy what is expected of me and to advocate for myself and others. As a Zimbabwean-British, to be a feminist is to acknowledge the position of scapegoat among my peers and break past ideals that limit my existence, and to break free from blatant and internalised misogyny. To be a feminist is to grasp on tight to the notion of always advocating for myself and having full autonomy over my existence.
Illustrations by Kylie Marume
Follow @plutoniangod and view more at kyliemarume.com
