WORLD
IMAGINATION
VOLUME 1
WE Fearture
ANDY WARHOL
SPOT LIGHT ON BRAVEN
FUTURE SOUND FSOSA
A DAY WITH PORTIA DUBE
fashion:
Pah Designs _1
THE TEAM
Editor: Rofhiwa Mudzanani Design and Layout: Emmanuel Nkhumeleni Cover Design: Emmanuel Nkhumeleni Creative Director: Rofhiwa Mudzanani Photographers: Portia Dube Emmanuel Nkhumeleni
Imagination world
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@Imagination world
EDITORS NOTE
As we embark on adventurous and full of color journey for this new pop art magazine. The fascinating and colorful pop art culture. We intend to break boundaries and give platform to the fun, mesmerizing and talented up coming artist around the world, giving new meaning to pop art. We intend to take you through a journey of thought provoking, intriguing, and mesmerizing world of pop art. Our challenge for this first issue was to translate the vision and philosophy we head into imagination world. To unify and differentiate the identity of the magazine from the rest of the magazines out there, we focused on the layout of the magazine, so it can be simple to browse through and also be more engaging towards the reader. As this is our first issue, imagination world gave us the freedom to experiment with it, and also for us to curry out the vision without us adhering to any rigid guidelines. We hope our vision for this magazine will be eye opening, and as well as thought provoking and also discover the endless talent the youth of this country have. With this first will introduce to you how did pop art come up and the history of pop art, as we introduce you to the father of pop art. Pop art has always been colorful
trend setting and out there in the people, from the 60 colorful clothes and the music just compliment everything, with bubbly personality pop art come to be recognized by, to what it is now fusing street murals, abstract elements, and graffiti, and transposing them onto fine art, music, dance, and fashion. We are thrilled about this issue, as this is our first issue, which has taken a long to come to this point, as it has taken a lot of sweat, head work, dedication, fun and unbelievable commitment to making it. We took a lot of time on selecting the people to be featured in the magazine; we head to select people who head something extra about the individual, as they like to call it “the x-factor”, as they are changing the game in their respective fields. We head an interview with Braven Nhlapo the elegant contemporary dancer, and we also spend a day with the magical Portia with her camera as we do shoot with her. And the hip hop group FSOSA give us the inside on their music. The first issue of world of imagination is going to give you the back round and the origins of pop art and looking at pop culture in general. Bringing you the best of pop art, by using your imagination, hope you get lost in the imagination world. Welcome to the imagination world…….. _3
CONTENTS _4
Page 6
The Pioneer Andy Warhol
Page 10
Elegant Steps with Braven Nhlapo
Page 12
The Sound makers FSOSA
Page 16
Maboneng Precinct
Page 20
A day with Portia Dube
Page 23
Fashion : PAH Design
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PIONEER THE
Andy Warhol
Illustrator Andy Warhol was one of the most prolific and popular artists of his time, using both avant-garde and highly commercial sensibilities _6
ICON
In the late 1950s, Warhol began devoting more attention to painting, and in 1961, he debuted the concept of “pop art” paintings that focused on massproduced commercial goods Born on August 6, 1928, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Andy Warhol was a successful magazine and ad illustrator who became a leading artist of the 1960s Pop art movements. He ventured into a wide variety of art forms, including performance art, film-making, video installations and writing, and controversially blurred the lines between fine art and mainstream aesthetics. Warhol died on February 22, 1987, in New York City.
1928, in the neighborhood of Oakland in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Andy Warhol’s parents were Slovakian immigrants. His father, Ondrej Warhola, was a construction worker, while his mother, Julia Warhola, was an embroiderer. They were devout Byzantine Catholics who attended mass regularly, and maintained much of their Slovakian culture and heritage while living in one of Pittsburgh’s Eastern European ethnic enclaves.
Born Andrew Warhola on August 6,
When he graduated from college with
his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1949, Warhol moved to New York City to pursue a career as a commercial artist. It was also at this time that he dropped the “a” at the end of his last name to become Andy Warhol. He landed a job with Glamour magazine in September, and went on to become one of the most successful commercial artists of the 1950s. He won frequent awards for his uniquely whimsical style, using his own blotted line technique and rubber stamps to create his drawings. _7
Warhol, who clearly relished his celebrity, became a fixture at infamous New York City nightclubs like Studio 54 and Max’s Kansas City. Commenting on celebrity fixation—his own and that of the public at large—Warhol observed, “more than anything people just want stars.” He also worked in sculpture and photography, and in the 1980s, he moved into television, hosting Andy Warhol’s TV and Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes on MTV. _8
ICON
In the late 1950s, Warhol began devoting more attention to painting, and in 1961, he debuted the concept of “pop art”—paintings that focused on mass-produced commercial goods. In 1962, he exhibited the now-iconic paintings of Campbell’s soup cans. These small canvas works of everyday consumer products created a major stir in the art world, bringing both Warhol and pop art into the national spotlight for the first time. British artist Richard Hamilton described pop art as “popular, transient, expendable, low cost, mass-produced, young, witty, sexy, gimmicky, glamorous, big business.” As Warhol himself put it, “Once you ‘got’ pop, you could never see a sign the same way again. And once you thought pop, you could never see America the same way again.” Warhol’s other famous pop paintings depicted Coca-cola bottles, vacuum cleaners and hamburgers. He also painted celebrity portraits in vivid and garish colours; his most famous subjects include Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger and Mao Zedong. As these portraits gained fame and notoriety, Warhol began to receive hundreds of commissions for portraits from socialites and celebrities. His portrait “ Eight Elvises” eventually resold for $100 million in 2008, making it one of the most valuable paintings in world history. Warhol died on February 22, 1987, at the age of 58. His personal life has been the subject of much debate and consideration. He is widely believed to have been a gay
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ELEGANT Steps
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Braven Nhlapo is anything but understated...apart from being a sweet and humble lady to her being outlandish and esoteric stage persona, one might imagine she has inhabited her own world when she starts dancing. She has a sense of elegance,grace and captivating factor when she starts dancing.
INTERVIEW
Can you briefly tell us about yourself? I am a 22 year old native Sowetan. I’m a young ambitious dreamer who is mad about the arts and I strongly believe in being original and allowing a person to express themselves freely. Your love for perfuming arts where and how did it come from? I have always been an active child growing up, so I would always take part in sports, singing in the school choir etc. until I discovered a contemporary dance group in my neighborhood and I never looked back. When did you decide that you want to do this professional and how did your parents take your decision? I think I made the decision when I was at Film school. I was there to study Film just to acquire an extra skill and I found myself surrounded by students who would give anything to be the best in the Filming industry. So decided to adapt the same attitude with dancing. My mother is very easy going when it comes to what I want to pursue.
I think with her, its good enough that I’m doing something, but she’s also supportive. How did it feel when you finally studying arts? It felt really good because I was taking the first step to fulfilling my dreams and it was up to me to see it through. If ever you where not doing arts what would you be doing? Journalism What’s your take on the over roll perfuming industry In SA ? It’s looking good. Young artists like myself have an abundance of platforms to showcase their work and are seeking independence to steer clear from exploitation. Yes, funding is still a big issue but I’m positive that things will change. How do you prepare before your performance? I always try to get rid of the nerves, so I meditate. I do a lot of breathing exercises, I stretch a lot and I look at myself in the mirror and tell myself that I’m gonna kill it!
What got interested on the industry? I love to dance and I was looking for an opportunity where I get to do it all the time. What inspires you? Music. What’s favorite type of dancing? I’ve loved Hip hop for a long time but I have to say Contemporary dance is deep rooted within me. Your favorite show you have done up to so far? Footprints of a Dancer, it was an Indian production by Jazzy Masala choreographed by Versha Magan. Who would you like to work with in one of our veterans chorographer? It’s hard to say who in South Africa because I believe our best choreographers are still on the rise. But I would definitely love to work with international choreographer Wade Robson. Where do you see yourself in 3 years? I see myself providing local artists with jobs through my company and staging awesome shows across Africa and worldwide. _11
The
SOUND MA _12
AKERS
INTERVIEW
F
sosa or fsxsv the name to remember‌ when audience get to listen to the music of this fantastic four, with different styles of music, you would wish you head discover them sooner. Fsxsv is an acidic/alternative hip hop group; the music of fsxsv encompasses a wide rage of styles of hip hop that have not been identified as mainstream hip-hop. Their music does not conform to any hip hop stereotypes; instead their music is a bland of deferent genres which gives the mind an explosion of music experience. The group describes their music as very low pitched, and the sound of the group is similar to the Asap mob sound, the group on one song they sound very grimy and dark, and if we could put color in their music it will be black and white. The group complies of 4 individual artist with deferent types of style, the group members are Eltee, Goshdam, gang, Plax and the residential producer Merv, each member of the group have their distinctive style and sound, Eltee is more of an alternative rapper, his sound compresses of life stories and experiences he recalls, his more of intellectual than any other artist in fsxsv and attracts listeners that are welted and self observant. Goshdam does more of trap hip-hop but entails his experience in it, his music is definitely turn up than all the other artist of fsxsv it is definitely songs for the club and parties, Gang reminds everyone of kendrink Lamar because his music is lyrical powerful ,basically he got bars on bars, his rap can get very fast one has to keep up to listen to what his saying, he rap’s about his life experience his defiantly the most versatile artist in fsxsv, on one song he can be very emotional and than turns up on another.
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INTERVIEW
Plax his straight skate mental (meaning skate orientated) his the best free stylist in the group and his also very versatile, his music is light hearted and definitely for the hipsters , skaters and free spirited individuals. The music of fsxsv takes one on a lyrical journey, and their ability for story telling leaves you with a lingering taste in your mouth, that can only be satisfied by consuming more of whatever they give you the taste, how can I put this their music is an “Explosing Of Flavour” that never goes away, it leaves you wanting more of their music. The group’s name FSOSA means for sounds of something amazing, and the name Sosa was inspired by the drug lord in the movie scarface called Lord Sosa. The ability for the group to transmit emotion from life’s experience makes the group one to watch out for the future. Lord Sosa didn’t only leave this guys with the name Sosa, he also gave them the ability to deal in drugs on another level, after listening to them you become a junky for their music.
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and the name Sosa was inspired by the drug lord in the movie scarface called Lord Sosa.
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hello...
Maboneng Regeneration in Johannesburg has seen the transformation of areas that, for years, were declared no-go zones as a result of urban decay and crime. The Maboneng precinct east of the city is one of them.
M
aboneng, a Sotho word meaning “place of light”, is a fitting name for a district that has fast become a centre of creative energy for Johannesburg’s urban artists. With a mix of art galleries, and retail and studio space on offer, the precinct draws the inner-city public, as well as the chic, art-going crowd of the city’s northern suburbs, bringing life back into downtown Johannesburg. In 2008, developer Jonathan Liebmann bought old construction offices and warehouses dating from the 1900s. He collaborated with acclaimed sustainable architect Enrico Daffonchio in transforming the industrial space into a cultural oasis that is now Arts on Main, one of Maboneng’s two main building complexes. Arts on Main has a historic look and feel; it has retained its industrial aspect, with concrete-coloured walls and a metal fire escape that rises up to the second level of the building. Visitors can take in the view of the urban landscape from the secondlevel metal balcony, while listening to the industrial noise generated by the factories that still operate in the area. The complex includes a combination of advertising agencies, retail space, art galleries and private studios. Worldrenowned South African artist William Kentridge was one of the first tenants to buy a space in the building.
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Visitors can also shop for quality art books and local designer clothing, or enjoy the culinary fare on offer. Try some coffee or delicious deli sandwiches from Canteen, which is set in a gravel courtyard filled with lemon and olive trees. Main Street Life, the younger of Maboneng’s two developments, is a transformed 1970s industrial building that houses a variety of establishments. It opened its doors to the public in 2010. The top floor of Main Street Life is taken up by the 12 Decades Johannesburg Art Hotel, where each individually designed room represents one of the past 12 decades of Johannesburg’s history. Besides the hotel, Main Street Life also includes apartments, a rooftop events venue and retail stores. On the ground floor, Johannesburg’s independent cinema, the Bioscope, screens local, international and classic films that don’t usually make it to the mainstream cinema circuit. The Bioscope, which opened in June 2010, is a unique cultural tourist attraction it screens local films and showcases the creative talent of Johannesburg through talks and live music performances. The popular screenings of the documentary Unhinged: Surviving Joburg, have made the Bioscope a great place to experience the complexity of Johannesburg’s inner city.
Directions
From Johannesburg’s M1 south, go around the city and take the M2 east. Take the Joe Slovo off-ramp, followed by the Market Street off-ramp, to your right. Keep right and cross over one set of traffic lights. At the next set of lights, turn right onto Betty Street and immediately right onto Fox Street. Main Street
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While many people still keep their distance from the inner city on weekends, others flock to the buzzing Maboneng Precinct were there’s a host of activities,including a spa, restaurants, a cinema, shops and the famous Market on Main.
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A Whole New World
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y W a D i t h A
Portia Dube _20
PROFILE
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FASHION
CLOTHES BY PAH DESIGN _23
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FASHION
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CLOTHES BY PAH DESIGN
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