Kiana Mui: The Chill Creative
My first experience of Kiana Mui was her work at BLK MRKT's one year anniversary party: two yellow-drenched pieces from her InSeCuRE series. What stood out to me was her repurposed creation of Amine's Good For You album cover - a vulnerable, subtly complex expression of self-doubt. Before knowing the mind behind this work, I envisioned a late twenty-something recluse with an impenetrable disposition. What I found was Kiana, a 20 year old, humble-spirited girl celebrating with her family.
In a way that connects her to the great artists of the past and future, Kiana uses her work to escape trials of life and imposed expectations - as an artist, a young woman, a student, etc. Her work explains aspects of her self and her life in ways that she is not always able to put in words, in ways that may not be easily assessed from meeting her.
Influenced early by her older brother, Kiana became enamored with anime and cartoon illustration at the age of 6. This love of illustrating was further intensified by her connection with comics - she would lose track of time and space drawing comics as a kid. Today, this love of the vibrancy in anime and vigor in comics translates in every piece she creates.
BLK MRKT celebrates Kiana Mui as an artist making her own way and making waves. She is the perfect example of the archetypal story of the artist searching and discovering herself along her unique creative journey. Young, ambitious, and grinding, Kiana conquers more than just angles and shadowing, she's navigates herself with her work, constantly reinventing and developing why and what makes her an artist.
All photos from Instagram: @kmuiii
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