We are The Christie magazine - Edition 6

Life through Kymara’s lens

Life through Kymara’s lens

A renowned artist has used her experience as a patient at The Christie as inspiration for an award-winning self-portrait.

Kymara Akinpelumi has a background in photography and has had her work displayed in the National Portrait Gallery and on billboards throughout the UK. Working primarily through self-portraiture and photo essays, her images are autobiographical, intimate and effective. Kymara was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, which hugely affected her life as a young person who enjoyed sport. As a former county netball player and coach, Kymara was disheartened by her lack of strength after treatment, not recognising herself or her appearance. During this time, her sister, Kaitlyn, was still able to push her body to the limits through competitive running. Kaitlyn encouraged Kymara to also use running as a source of healing and, on her first community run, Kymara was brought to tears by her sister's encouragement. Kymara used Kaitlyn as a mirror before cancer creating an emotional self-portrait of the two sisters together. She said: "Watching my sister able to push her body reminds me of my blood and DNA, and what I'm capable of. Because of Kaitlyn, I want to reclaim my body, to give it the love and strength it deserves. She's my role model." This joint self-portrait displays the sisterly relationship of the two, Kymara leaning on Kaitlyn as a beacon of power. She hopes the work will encourage other young patients to focus on building an active life after cancer, despite the challenges treatment brings.

Watching my sister able to push her body reminds me of my blood and DNA, and what I'm capable of. Kymara Akinpelumi

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