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Kknairuti

Title: Afloat
Artist: Kknairuti
Medium: Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Year: 2025
Size: 42cm x 59cm

Email: kelvinnairuti@gmail.com
TikTok: @kknairuti

The Process: 

Afloat came to be after Kknairuti was experiencing a crisis of purpose as an artist after not creating for a year or two. Caught up in a formal 9–5 job that was completely creatively draining. The piece felt like a long-awaited comeback, an outlet, a conscious leap to start creating. 

Kkairuit’s process is punctuated by intention and thoughtful steps. Working early in the morning to have a fresh mind is fresh and no distractions is his usual way until he broke his own rule during a late-night session last year, staying up until dawn working through a complex detail after losing complete track of time.

Kknairuti finds the flow state by finding one specific song that plays on repeat for the entire session. The music choice depends on the mood of the piece, that single track keeps me focused and sets the rhythm for his process.

As the piece unfolds he snaps a picture and walk away. Then spends the next few hours obsessively checking the photo on his phone from a fresh perspective to see if anything needs fixing before going back to it.

The Artwork: 

Kknairuti wants the viewer to feel a sense of being seen. Just holding the deep, calm gaze of the subject. An immediate, quiet connection that pulls the viewer out of their own head for just a moment. The pieces explores presence, awareness, and staying 'afloat' above inner noise while existing in a state of quiet mindfulness. 

The Theme:

Consciousness shows up through the intense, steady gaze of the subject, contrasting with the fleeting foam resting on the skin. It explores presence, awareness, and staying 'afloat' above inner noise while existing in a state of quiet mindfulness.