Art Meets Mainstream July 2014
MOVIES
AALIYAH BIOPIC DRAMA RIP MAYA ANGELOU DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES HERCULES LUCY
UNCOVERED GARETH CLIFF
BET 14
SHAPE SHIFTERS #Unradio #Unhinged Reality
Cover image coutersy of : /citizen.co.za
1
Barcoded mag Wish all the teams in the world cup the best of luck BARCODED MAGAZINE
CONTENT
SHAPE SHIFTERS
Publisher Infin8Media Editor in Chief Phumzile Twala @PHUMIT Production Manager Mbuso Mafuyeka @youngbuu
6
UNCOVERED GARETH CLIFF / UNRADIO
12
COLUMNIST THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF KANYE WEST
14
OFFRAMP AN OCEAN OF ‘HAPPY.
21
SOUNDBOOTH TRIBEONE FESTIVAL
Graphic Designer Mbuso Mafuyeka @youngbuu
24
PIXELS MOVIES
Contributing Writers Mduza van Gough @MduzavanGough
27
PIXELS SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
29
PURE ART NEW MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
32
CREATIVE CHRONICLES THE CREATIVE COUNSEL
34
OPPORTUNITIES SCrIBE SCRIPTWRITING COMPETITION
36
THE PLATFORM CREATIVE OUTLET EXTRAORDINAIRE: LADYMING
IT Manager Brian Khumalo @Brian_DeITwiz Sales Manager Khethiwe Twala @misskittyred Baile Ramaisa
Phumzile Twala @PHUMIT Namile Mkhize @NAMILEMKHIZE For general enquiries email info@barcodedmag.co.za For advertising enquries email sales@barcodedmag.co.za khethiwe@barcodedmag.co.za baile@barcodedmag.co.za 011 486- 9488 f : barcodedMag t: @BarcodedMag w: www.barcodedmag.co.za e: info@barcodedmag.co.za i : barcodedmag wechat: Barcoded Mag
3
LETTER FROM THE
EDITOR SHAPE SHIFTERS “If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be”- Maya Angelou.
Fitting to quote this legendary wordsmith, who recently departed this world. Read our tribute to Maya Angelou (Legendz) When we thought of the theme for this month, a number of high-profile names came to mind. Shape-shifters. Individual or art collectives who have completely redefined the industries in which they work. That’s what we had in mind. Fortunately, radio jock Gareth Cliff gave us some of his time, to tell us more about his groundbreaking venture, Cliff Central. (Uncovered) Unradio, Unhinged at its best. The founders of The Creative Counsel also shared some entrepreneurial gems with us (Creative Chronicles.) BARCODED MAGAZINE
@PHUMIT
Columnist MduzavanGogh discusses “The Misunderstanding of Kanye West” and also chats to David Tshabalala (Spot On.) Namile Mkhize reviews the book “When Hope Whispers.” The latest Cabinet announcement ruffled a few feathers in the arts and culture sector. Read (Pure Art Report) to find out why. As usual, we have some Opportunities lined up and an artist featured in (The Platform). As artists, it’s inevitable to have to adapt to change. But how much better is it when you are that artist initiating change? Blazing trails. Making a dent in the Universe? This edition is dedicated to those artists who continue to redefine the norm. Don’t forget to visit www.barcodedmag.co.za and to follow us on Twitter @BarcodedMag. Like our Facebook Page Barcoded Mag for the latest updates in the art world. Signing Out, Phumi T @PHUMIT
5
THE ULTIMATE SHAPE SHIFTER #Unradio. #Unhinged Reality
BARCODED MAGAZINE http://citizen.co.za/
GARETH
UNCOVERED
CLIFF
UN COVERED 7
“ BARCODED MAGAZINE
RY
TO RS E V CO
L ike him or not, Gareth Cliff is a media powerhouse. He may have ruffled a few feathers during his tenure at the SABC, but his listeners were never left wanting when it came to radio entertainment. After a decade at the helm of the popular breakfast show on 5FM, he looked back on his close shaves with the ‘powers-that-be’ at the public broadcaster and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and decided to shift gears. Leaving 2 million fans on 5FM and the conservatism of the management, he decided to move away from commercial radio in a bold way: by starting his own radio station. @CliffCentral: “Uncensored, unscripted, unradio. Real conversations about everything that happens in our world- everything we all experience every day,” reads their twitter bio. Taking advantage of the digital migration. Cliff and his team invited people to join the revolution as they formed CliffCentral.com- the definition of unradio. Relying on the quality of their content and the power of their reputations, the show launched on May 1st. A month later, he reveals to us that he had been thinking about making the move for a while. He tells us, “I think I became complacent... There’s no room for laziness in live radio, because it’s so competitiveespecially morning radio. I was ready for a new challenge.” The move to an online platform has meant that they’ve been able to avoid a lot of red tape and regulations. This leads to candid radio with immediate, uncensored responses. “The way we broadcast is the way normal people talk- no patronising nonsense, just straight, real talk. I think audiences have been hungry for this kind of content for a long time.” Although the move to online radio isn’t new, Cliff and his team are the first mainstream group to do it. One is tempted to call it a pioneering move, but a lot of people access various media through an online platform nowadays. Cliff believes South Africa is lagging a bit behind Europe and America, but he’s encouraged by how fast we catch on. “It won’t be long before the old ways seem very lame, dated and irrelevant,” he adds.
Known for his controversial, stinging remarks, Cliff has become a brand of his own. His character is one that fosters open-minded views- his suspensions and clashes with SABC management are proof of this. This is a view he believes extends to other South Africans. “We’re breaking out of the mould Calvinism, apartheid, segregation and conservatism forced us all into. Young South Africans aren’t interested in being pigeonholed, stereotyped or talked- down to. We’re worldly, open-minded and free.” Young South Africans have become accustomed to cheaper forms of communication in the past few years. However, a big barrier for digital media success in South Africa os largely due to high broadband costs. CliffCentral has worked around this challenge by teaming up with WeChat and MTN. “We’ve already made a few deals with one of the networks to lower the data costs for streaming CliffCentral and I’m confident we will make even more headway in the future. These data costs will have to come down, and perhaps we can help put pressure on them.” One of the things he’s most excited about at CliffCentral is the unearthing of new talent. “Over 1000 people have been on air during live auditions during May. We’ve found some incredible talent- and the kind of talent you’d never hear on mainstream radio,” he reveals. The full line up was released early in June and features the likes of Jen Su,Sade Giliberti, Carly Fields, Zizo, Trevor Gumbi, The Daily Maverick Show, The Khonza Show hosted by Andrew Levy and Womandla!- a show dedicated to the multitasking, high-flying, cooking, cleaning, boardroom smashing and yummy mummying new age woman. If you’re still wondering why you should tune in, Gareth sums it up: “Because you deserve to join the kind of conversations we’re having. You’ll never be bored again. This is the future.” They describe the flagship show as ‘unhinged reality’ with edgy material and a healthy dose of inspiration and intelligence. What cannot be denied is the impact of CliffCentral on the broadcasting industrylaunching on multiple platforms, including Comedy Central on DSTV has shifted perceptions of ‘what radio is’ or can be. There’s no doubt CliffCentral can safely be regarded as the biggest shape-shifter in this country for 2014. By: Phumzile Twala
9
AALIYAH BIOPIC DRAMA
Following the news of the upcoming Lifetime release of the Aaliyah biopic, Disney star Zendaya was announced then withdrawn as the lead actress. R&B singer Aaliyah died in a plane crash in 2001 along with eight other people. The “Rock the Boat” singer was 22 at the time of her death. The biopic will follow her life from the age of 10 to her death. Executive producer Martin Chase says, “Aaliyah’s personal and professional relationship with R. Kelly will be explored with care in the film as we set out to depict her life with the utmost respect. Above all else it’s our hope to inspire an entirely new generation with her music and larger-than-life talent.”
BARCODED MAGAZINE
NEWS
HANCOCK 2 LEADING LADY RUMOURS…
GUESS WHO?
Rumours have been swirling that Beyonce is set to star alongside Will Smith in the Hancock Sequel. She could be playing Hancock’s love interest Carly Kicker. Mrs Carter is currently on her ‘On the Run’ tour with husband Jay Z. Her previous silver screen exploits include Dreamgirls, Fighting Temptations, Cadillac Records and Goldmember.
The BET Awards were held at the end of June in the United States. The awards are a celebration of the best in the world of R&B, hip hop and entertainment. Host Chris Rock kept the audience entertained, calling the show “The Black World Cup.” The nearly four hour long show saw Beyonce taking top honours winning Best Female R&B Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best Collaboration and the Fandemonium award. She is currently on tour with hubby as part of their ‘On The Run’ Tour.
Talk started following her name appearing on the IMBD page for the film Hancock 2. If true, this will be Beyoncé’s first movie since 2009’s “Obsessed.”
Pharrell took Video of the Year Award and Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. Lionel Richie was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award, accompanied by a tribute by John Legend, Ledisi and Yolanda Adams. Young Money won Best Group, while stable mate Drake continued his reign as hip hop king by taking the Best Male Hip Hop Artist award. African talent was celebrated in the form of Davido, who won Best International Act: Africa Award. Fellow African Lupita Nyong’o
won Best Actress Award and her 12 Years a slave co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor took home Best Actor Award. The show wasn’t without controversy, as Nicki Minaj threw some major shade at Australian rapper Iggy Azaelia. Minaj won the award for the 5th time in a row. A highlight was Pharrell’s performance with hip hop royalty Missy Elliott.
11
THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF KANYE WEST
BARCODED MAGAZINE
COLUMNIST I’m pretty sure that a lot of people rarely think about the most influential artist of our time, and if they do, I doubt that the first name that comes to mind is Kanye West. Names like Michael Jackson, Damien Hirst, Warhol, Tupac, Madonna, Dali, Spielberg, Steve Jobs and the Basquiats are probably the names that some of you may think of, but I think Kanye West is probably THE most influential artist of our generation or he could be the biggest idiot in the history of mankind. I’ve followed Kanye’s career since 2007 after the whole sales battle with 50 Cent. I had heard his music before but I wasn’t Kanye’s biggest fan. My brother used to go crazy over Kanye West in 2004 and 2005 when I was going crazy over 50 Cent at the time. I started paying attention to Kanye West and studied his whole oeuvre at the time (in ’07 he was releasing his 3rd album ‘Graduation’ which was a classic) and that was at the time when I was learning how to make beats with my friends on Fruityloops. From then on I started gravitating to his music and his whole style and I really learnt a lot about music and sampling songs, because when it comes to sampling, no one does or has ever done it like Kanye West. I was in love with this dude (pause...a fellow Gemini); the only thing I didn’t like was the way he dressed. Kanye West perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the modern man, fitting in with his diverse sound. Ye’s image has always gone against the grain of what’s been traditionally typical hip hop, and has influenced a lot of what defines the ‘normal’ male look. Kanye made it cool for heterosexual men to wear bright colours and skinny jeans. He has influenced my generation in such a big way when it comes to fashion. ‘The Louis Vuitton Don’ went on to design designer shoes for the French luxury brand and the shoes cost two arms and a leg, but that was the only the beginning for Mr. West. He always feels very current or a bit ahead of his time like most great artists of yester year. He changed the way we all listen to pop music, this guy took something that was gratingly overused like autotune in 2008 and made a classic album and arguably his most criticized album(maybe Yeezus takes that one) ‘808s and Heartbreak,’ which wrung more emotion out of a synthesized wail than you’d ever expected. ‘808s and Heartbreak’ is considered to be one of the most influential albums in hip hop history, and Ye’s willingness to try new things with his music has shaped a lot of pop’s current landscape. He left us all in awe in 2009 at the VMAs when he took to the stage while Taylor Swift was accepting an award and basically said that she didn’t deserve it and as much
as it was true, it was yet another check on a growing list of self-aggrandizing stunts by Kanye. It’s these offscript moments that make Ye such a great character. Remember the famous “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”; he ruffled a lot of feathers in the White house. In hip hop, the injection of politics in your lyrics isn’t only a cool way to have credibility if you know what you’re talking about; it’s also likely to add depth to your work that emotions can’t convey. Kanye West has never bit his tongue for any man, he speaks his mind about what he believes and when he does the world hears him. Yeezus could be the biggest statement yet – a statement that’s even more intriguing following the braggadocio of ‘Watch The Throne.’ The message that Yeezus conveyed is very important and the way he did it- via the charts- in the grand tradition of past musical stars-cum-activists, he incorporated the themes of fame and himself as a person into his lyrics and music to the extent he has, he lets us all see what it’s like to be seen and known and how all of that can really fuck up your psyche. I think Kanye has a great sense of humour, but he is often mocked. It might be surprising for a man of his stature, with a bloated ego; Yeezus often has his tongue crammed tightly against his cheek. It’s a strange introspective kind of humour to be sure; like a lot of his output, Kanye is doing it mostly for himself. You can experience a taste of it in some of the album skits in his previous albums and in many of his egotistical rants. While his many amusing and blatantly goofy tweets have been deleted for the sake of Yeezus promotion at least you can get old favourites framed. I was watching a fan made documentary called ‘The New Testament’ a week ago and I feel like people will look back at what Kanye was saying and say “That mother%&@#$r was right”, because he speaks about issues that actually matter and the bad things about the system and how the world would be a better place if it was run by artists. In a decade or so we’ll be turning up his music on all music playing devices and holding the great things he created and appreciate Yeezus for what he has done for the culture.
By: MduzavanGogh
13
OFFRAMP
AN OCEAN OF ‘HAPPY.’ G-STAR RAW BARCODED MAGAZINE
So Pharrell made pretty much the whole world ‘Happy’ and then topped it up by making a bold fashion statement with his Vivienne Westwood hat at the Grammys earlier this year. (And simultaneously started a fascinating new trend.) Then he had to deal with backlash following his cover on Elle magazine. ‘Skateboard P’ donned a Native American traditional hat and was later forced to issue a statement of apology for offending the community. His latest foray into the world of threads sees him lending his star power to an admirable fashion cause. Fashion in the name of saving the ocean. His recent collaboration with G-Star Raw has culminated in a new collection using recycled marine plastic. The collection used 10 tons of recycled ocean plastic and features jeans, bomber jackets, boilersuits, trench coats, shirts, t-shirts and caps. The G-Star RAW for the Oceans collection will hit G-Star stores in September 2014.
15
EXHIBITIONS
URBAN ART EXHIBITION: KILMANY-JO Kilmany –Jo Liversage is back on home soil for a double solo exhibition. Known for her work in the Urban Art genre, her latest exhibition is titled ‘Obversa714’ and will be seen in Cape Town and Johannesburg simultaneously from 5 July to 5 August 2014. The art work is inspired by street aesthetics, most notably spray painted graffiti and stencilling. Her style is characterised by a combination of street art and fine art. “During the Machine Age, artists would reduce their compositions to its smallest constituent parts. With the paintings in Obversa714, I manufactured this deconstruction by combining the painting tradition of portraiture idiosyncrasies from the urban culture of tagging. This enabled one to explore the intersection between street art and fine art while reconstructing them into a new genre of portraiture,” says Liversage. Lizamore & Associates is on 155 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood, Rosebank.
DA VINCI- THE GENIUS EXHIBITION Da Vinci-The Genius brings to life the genius of Leonardo as an inventor, artist, scientist, anatomist, engineer, architect, sculptor and all-round Renaissance thinker. The hundreds of exhibits on display include large touchscreen versions of Leonardo’s famous codices (notebooks), life-size machine inventions, anatomical sketches and the only 360-degree exact replica of the elusive Mona Lisa painting ever made. The exhibition is currently on at The Amazing Place in Woodmead, Sandton and ends July 27th. BARCODED MAGAZINE
DITAOLA Mohau Modisakeng, a graduate of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT, is currently exhibiting work at Brundyn+ in Cape Town. His work can be characterised as having political undertones and he specifically engages the theme of violence in a number of his pieces. His exhibition, titled Ditaola is his debut solo exhibition at the gallery. Ending 12th July, the exhibition highlights the relationship between narrative, form, nuance and what lies beneath. A central tenet and foundational question that Modisakeng’s work responds to is the issue of violence and concerns around the role it plays and continues to play in colonial, as well as post-colonial African societies. The young artist mostly works as a sculptor but also extends his multidisciplinary talents to performance art, video and photography. His work is also influenced by the effects of political violence he witnessed growing up in an
informal settlement in Soweto. His work is anchored in the history of South Africa and he confronts the history of violence head on while positing possible alternatives to violence. The 28 year-old was awarded the SASOL New Signatures Award for 2011 and his latest exhibition engages both individual and collective narratives informed by the realities of living in South Africa. Of his work, the artist says, “My current work exits as several physical ‘bodies’ in the form of autonomous sculptures each assuming on individual role within an allegorical network of signs and symbols comprising the larger constellation. The characters, moments (performative, live elements) and setting on a visual level correspond to the very ideas and concepts-political, philosophical, theological and historical- that are at the root of my practice on both a symbolic and material level.” Brundyn + is at 170 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town.
17
Maya Angelou: Arts Extraordinaire A Legacy Lives On “And Still I Rise.” Words immortilaized by American poet, author, political activist, actress, singer and dancer Maya Angelou. The poem is still often quoted by various fans and lovers of her work and is one of many of her poignant poems that have served to inspire and motivate countless individuals worldwide. Considered by some to be a modern day griot, Angelous’ power as an orator cannot be denied. What made her story special was the irony of her decision to become a voluntary mute at age 7, following the trauma of being sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend. Her courage to testify against him would later become her shame as she came to believe his death (likely caused by her maternal uncles) was due to her voicing what had happened to her. She later found her voice, encouraged by Mrs Bertha Flowers, from her hometown Stamps, who introduced her to poetry, 6 years later. This discovery later led her to flourish in other art forms as well, including song and dance. She once declared that the sort of person she adored was one who survived all odds with “passion and compassion.” She was the embodiment of these sentiments. Her own life was filled with challenges, lessons and worldly experiences, from becoming a teen mother, to becoming a sex worker and being mistaken as a native of a coastal Ghanaian community during her stay in the country in the 1960s. Her multifaceted expertise ranged from singing, dancing, teaching, writing, poetry to motivational speaking and her literary works have drawn most criticism and praise. Her work within the arts has awarded her with over 50 honourary degrees, Tony Awards and Pulitzer Prize nominations, a life Professorship at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton and the Presidential Medal of Freedom
from President Obama in 2011. Through the decades, her autobiographical novels have enthralled, entertained and inspired different generations. Her death, aged 86 on 27 May 2014 in her home in WinstonSalem, North Carolina left her fans devastated and saddened. Public figures and celebrities took to social networks to express their sorrow. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who had a close friendship with Angelou posted a photo on Instagram and wrote, “I’ve been blessed to have Maya Angelou as my mentor, mother/sister and friend since my 20s. She was there for me always, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life. The world knows her as a poet but at the heart of her, she was a teacher. ‘When you learn, teach. When you get, give,’ is one of my best lessons fron her. She won three Grammys, spoke six languages and was the second poet in history to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration. But what stands out to me most about Maya Angelou is not what she has written or spoken, it’s how she lived her life. She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace. I loved her and I know she loved me. I will profoundly miss her. She will always be the rainbow in my clouds.” Her work will continue to be celebrated by generations to come. Her gift for teaching life lessons through spoken and written word will continue to enlighten and inform for years to come. May she Rest in Peace. “If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”- Maya Angelou. By: Phumzile Twala
1928-2014 BARCODED MAGAZINE
I
LEGENDZ
n an old converted warehouse in Chicago, USA, Francis Nicholls, better known by his stage name Frankie Knuckles, experimented with drum-machine-based music in his Soul sets. And so House music was born. Working with the likes of Larry Levan, Robert Williams, Chip E, Robert Owens and Jamie Principle, Knuckles founded a new form of music at a time when soul and R&B were king. Knuckles played at the “Warehouse” from 1977 to 1983 and his fans started patronizing his club “The Power Plant” thereafter. Seeking a way of defining the new music, people started referring to it as “music from the Warehouse” and it was later shortened to “house.”
Of this era, Knuckles once mentioned, “The Warehouse club in Chicago was like “church for people who have fallen from grace.” The Knuckles eventually became known as “The Godfather of House.” He recalled, “I am just one of a number of DJs that pioneered the sound. However, it all began at my club, US Studios, which was later named the Warehouse. It inspired all the other guys that were climbing on the bandwagon back in the day.” Today, the genre is a massive force worldwide, with new markets giving birth to brand names frequently. The style may evolve as with any other music genre, but the appeal keeps expanding globally. From South Africa to Ibiza, House music has become a refuge for young people, a way to create freely. Elements of the genre have been infused with other music types since the late 80s- a trend which continues today. Knuckles laid the foundation of house music’s popularity when he said, “House music’s universal appeal comes from the energy, beauty, soulful sexiness, and gut-wrenching vocal performances that have inspired so many spin-off ideas.” In 2004, the pioneer’s contributions were celebrated when then Illinois Senator Barack Obama declared the location of the Warehouse on South Jefferson Street “Frankie Knuckles Way.” The house legend’s heart played one final set on March 31st 2014. His cause of death has been attributed to complications with Diabetes II. Artists all over the world reacted with shock and sorrow to the news of his passing. Questlove tweeted: “Jesus man. Frankie Knuckles was so underappreciated. He was the DJ the DJs aspired to be. True Dance Pioneer.” WuTangClan also Tweeted: “R.I.P Frankie Knuckles...Peace. All praises due...” Fellow deckmaster DJ Spinna shared his sorrow: “I can’t believe it. This has been a crazy year thus far. R.I.P. to founding father of HOUSE MUSIC Frankie Knuckles!!! Massive loss man, wow!” By: Phumzile Twala
19
AB-SOUL EXPLAINS BATTLE ON ALBUM Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) signee Ab-Soul recently released his third studio album titled ‘These Days.’ The album’s first week sales were just under 22 000 and marked a number 11 debut for the rapper on the Billboard 200. The Carson California native, who cites Jay Z as a major influence, explained the story behind the battle on the album to MTV. Sending out a tweet resulted in a DM from fellow lyricist Daylyt, who was willing to take up the challenge and
make it a reality. The album ends with an 18-minute acappella rap battle against Daylyt. “These days, battle rap is as exciting as it’s ever been. Daylyt is just one of my favourites- he’s my favourite battle rapper,” Soul said. He also revealed that he was inspired by Joe Budden and he’s “always been an advocate of battle rap.”
ARETHA FRANKLIN BIOPIC AND NEW ALBUM IN THE WORKS The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin is the latest name set to be celebrated in a biopic. The Lifetime Network is in negotiations with Aretha Franklin to have a movie made about her life and career. She’s reportedly hands-on with cast selection and has been eyeing Tony Award winner Audra McDonald as well as Jennifer Hudson. “Audra’s got a great voice to work with, but she’s very Broadway oriented. But that doesn’t’ mean she cannot perform in the arena of soul, so that’s why I’m interested in hearing how she would sing my things. The singing is certainly going to be a very, very integral and important part of it, ”she says.
BARCODED MAGAZINE
The Soul diva is also finishing an album of covers of hit songs by fellow divas, including Adele, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight and Tina Turner. The album is produced by Andre 3000.
SOUNDBOOTH
AFRICAN MUSOS BEEF UP
TRIBEONE FESTIVAL LINE -UP
The TribeOne Festival is set to feature the likes of Nicki Minaj, Macklemore, J Cole, D’banj, Jack Parrow and Sarkodie this September.
The festival will be held 26-28 September and is already being billed as Africa’s biggest festival. It will feature over 150 artists performing on 3 main stages in Tshwane.
Other African acts include The Parlotones, Kwesta, Karen Zoid, Desmond and the Tutus, Xtatic, Fally Ipupa Redsan and Liquideep among many amazing acts.
Tickets are available via www.tribeonefestival.com
21
ED SHEERAN’S ALBUM’X’ DEBUTS AT NUMBER 1 ON BILLBOARD 200
British singer Ed Sheeran’s album ‘x’ has debuted on number 1 on the Billboard 200 charts. The singer/songwriter’s solo effort opened with 210 000 albums sold in its first week on sale. Sheeran’s sophomore album was released on June 23 through Atlantic Records. This also marks the largest sales week for a British male artist in nearly 10 years. Sheeran was nominated for Best New Artist at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards and his single “The A Team” was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2013 Grammy Awards.
JAMALI’S MARIECHAN GOES SOLO She’s been with Jamali for ten years and they all made a consensual decision to launch solo careers. Her debut single is called “Let Me Live My Life.” Of the release, she’s commented,” My debut single was inspired by my partner and it gave me the chance to showcase my diversity. The message I want listeners to take from it is to always stay true to yourself despite pressure from people.” The ladies from Jamali made the decision to allow one another opportunities to explore their talents further. “As an artist you need to explore different parts of what make you, you. People get to experience us as a group, now they get to know us as individuals.” She has previously revealed, “My purpose is to share, move and inspire, to bring people into one place and share through my music, pieces of me. I’m supposed to move souls the way music moves mine.”
BARCODED MAGAZINE
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
THAT MAKE SENSE
EXCEEDING.BRAND.EXCELLENCE
Tailor made IT SOLUTIONS & GRAPHIC DESIGN services to fit your business 011 486- 9488
23
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Keri Russell, Jason Clarke, Andy Serkis, Judy Greer and Gary Oldman star is the eighth release from the ‘Planet of the Apes’ franchise. Created at a cost of $120 million, the science fiction film is directed by Matt Reeves. A growing nation of genetically modified apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the virus unleashed one decade before. They reach a fragile peace but it proves to be short lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as earth’s dominant species.
BARCODED MAGAZINE
PIXELS
HERCULES
‘Hercules’ is an adventure film starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Set for a July 25 release, the film is directed by Brett Ratner. The cast includes Ian McShane, Reece Ritchie, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Joseph Fiennes and John Hurt. Johnson can also be seen in multiple roles in the flick.
MOVIES
Based on the graphic novel ‘Hercules: The Thracian Wars,’ the movie is one of two Hollywood studio Hercules
movies set for a 2014 release , the other being Summit Entertainment’s ‘The Legend of Hercules.’ In preparation for the role, Dwayne Johnson revealed undergoing a gruelling training routine, stating: “I trained and worked harder than ever for 8 months for this role. Lived alone and locked myself away (like a moody 260 pound monk in Budapest for 6 months while filming. The goal was to completely transform into this character. Disappear in the role. A press journalist asked me today, with the mental and physical toll the role had on me, would I do it again? Not only would I do it again, I’d do it f***ing twice.”
LUCY
Starring Scarlett Johansson in the lead role and directed by Luc Besson, “Lucy” is a superhero film set for release on 25 July 2014. Shot in Taipei, Paris and New York City, the film also stars Morgan Freeman. Lucy is set in a world that is run by the mob, street gangs, drug addicts and corrupt cops. Lucy (Scarlett Johansson), a woman living in Taipei, Taiwan, is forced to work as a drug mule for the mob. The drug implanted in her body inadvertently leaks into her system, changing her into a superhuman, due to accessing much more than the normal 10% of her brain capacity. She can absorb knowledge instantaneously, is able to move objects with her mind, and cannot feel pain or other discomforts. 25
“HARD TO GET” SET TO OPEN DIFF 2014
The 2014 Durban International Film Festival will be opened by the film ‘Hard to Get.’ Directed by Zee Ntuli and produced by Junaid Ahmed and Helen Spring, the film can be described as an action romance. The film tells the story of TK, a handsome young womanizer from a small community who falls for a sexy, reckless young thief named Skiets. Thrust into Joburg’s criminal underworld TK realises that his best bet is to trust her and hang on for dear life. Director Ntuli says, “The criminal gauntlet parallels the emotional journey of TK and Skiets providing a metaphor for how scary falling in love can be. Ultimately it is a hopeful stay, one which carries the message that love is worth fighting for.” Producer Ahmed believes, “Hard to get heralds the arrival of exciting new voices in South African cinema.” With some buzz already surrounding the film, it’s expected to make instant stars of the lead actors Thishiwe Ziqubu and Pallance Dladla. The 35th Durban International Film Festival, organised by the centre for creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu Natal takes place from 17- 27 July 2014.
AVENGERS 2 HEADING TO COMIC CON
Mark Ruffalo has confirmed that the Avengers 2 cast will be heading to Comic Con later this month. The visit should herald a look at some first footage of the forthcoming sequel. “Yeah, we’re gonna go out there. We’re all flying, we’re flying from London. We’re working. We’re shooting. We’re gonna stop and get on a plane and go to ComicCon together. It’s gonna be amazing,” confirms Ruffalo. The order also revealed his thoughts on a possible solo Hulk film: “It could get very boring to watch the guy who’s moping around who doesn’t want to do the very thing that we’re all dying to see him do. But I do feel like we’ve gained some ground on this new version of him,” he says. Originally showcasing primarily comic books and science fiction/fantasy related film, television, and similar popular arts, Comic Con now includes a larger range of pop culture and entertainment elements across virtually all genres, including horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics and fantasy novels. Avengers: Age of Ultron is set for a 2015 release.
“Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs and New South Africa” is a film that celebrates SOFT VENGEANCE: of Mzansi’s freedom fighters. Screenings will be shown at the San Francisco DOCCIE CELEBRATES LIFE one Jewish Film Festival July 24- August 10. OF FREEDOM FIGHTER The documentary, directed by lawyer-turned filmmaker Abby Ginzberg depicts the ALBI SACHS
highs and lows of Constitutional Court Justice Sachs and sheds light on how he arrived at a number of the key moves of his career. It paints a picture of Sachs as a young lawyer and legal advisor to the movement for equality in South Africa and traces the roots of his humane, pragmatic approach to the fight against apartheid. “There is a vast amount of literature about our struggle to transform our country. I wish there was more candid self-reflection. A good, strong cause can only benefit from internal critique,” says Sachs. Sachs was recently awarded the first ever Tang Prize for Rule of Law, considered a kind of Asian Nobel Prize. The doccie is currently showing at film festivals around the world and is notable for its interviews with high-profile members of the South African government and the ANC, as well as figures such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Also included is a powerful interview with Henri van der Westhuizen, a former South African military official responsible for the attack that nearly killed Sachs. Soft Vengeance traces the full arc of Sach’s life- from his struggle against a government to his rise to the highest levels of another.
BARCODED MAGAZINE
FILMMAKERS CALLED TO APPLY FOR SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE The Sundance Film Festival runs from 22 January to 15 February 2015 in the US. The Cape Film Commission (CFC) has opened applications for filmmakers to attend. Interested candidates need to deliver the application form along with necessary documentation to the CFC by 2pm, Friday 1 August 2014. Potential participants should note that only one representative per company will be allowed to apply under the SSAS programme, and all applicants must be able to attend the full festival in order to be considered. Visit www.capefilmcommission.co.za for more information.
BROADCASTING LEARNERSHIPS AVAILABLE Companies including etv, eNCA, YFM and Sasani Studios are offering learning opportunities in the broadcast and media industries, in partnership with eAcademy and the MICT SETA. The aim of the Programmes is to offer previously disadvantaged South Africans who have an interest in broadcasting and television production and have not been previously employed under any internship or learnership programme in the media field, with opportunities and skills. Deadline for the Skills Programme is 31 July 2014. Visit the eAcademy website for more information.
27
PURE ART
NEW MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
DEMOTION OR OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION? When President Jacob Zuma announced his new cabinet on 26 May, many individuals within the arts were dismayed at the decision to appoint Emmanuel Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mthethwa as Minister of Arts and Culture. What left a number of people shocked by the decision is that he is the former Minister of Police. Social networks were abuzz upon the revelation that Mthethwa’s new portfolio would be that of Arts and Culture. A known Zuma loyalist, Mthethwa’s appointment was seen by many as a demotion. In the past few years the position has often been viewed as the “dumping ground of failure and political appeasement” (according to Professor Andries Oliphant, a writer and Professor of Literary Theory at UNISA.) Playwright and arts administrator Mike van Graan, who served as an adviser to Nelson Mandela’s first arts and culture minister Ben Ngubane, has advised, “To make a success of his tenure, he needs to engage with civil society, not just with the praise singers and those dependent on his department for funding, but also with the critical, independent voices.” The 47-year-old former ANC chief whip’s appointment has been viewed as an insult by some in the arts and culture sector, following some questionable decision-making while Minister of Police. At a public debate hosted at the Goethe Institut on May 29th, van Graan, who serves as executive director of the African Arts Institute, expressed his thoughts: “There is little to have me believe that he will act in broader interests of society and of the arts and culture sector, rather than in defence of the president, the ruling party or ‘national interests’ as narrowly defined to protect those in power.” BARCODED MAGAZINE
Some concerns go deeper than this. Ismail Mohamed, artistic director of the National Arts Festival told the Mail and Guardian, “The appointment of Nathi Mthethwa is considered by many as an appointment that will drive Zuma’s agenda to silence, discipline and punish the arts sector that has been critical of his poor leadership. Further, it is considered as putting in place a minister who will increasingly advance ‘official art’ over and above free creativity.” Mthethwa and his deputy Rejoice Mabudafhasi will have their work cut out for them. They join a department that has fostered successful relations with European countries under the tutelage of his predecessor, Paul Mashatile. The success of the ‘Seasons’ initiative has been lauded by critics as a great move towards giving South African artists exposure. It’s not all as gloomy as it seems though. Some arts activists believe the appointment should motivate the arts and culture community to mobilise and engage the new minister. The arts community needs to find a way to hold the minister accountable. What will be interesting to see is how the department will respond to controversial works of art which are directly critical of the ANC or the President. The Minister will be expected to support artists and cannot be seen to be acting ambivalently in this regard. Multi-platinum selling musician Zahara told The Sowetan, “I am happy for him. Artists always believe in change. Change is good.” In the recent State of the Nation Address on June 17, President Zuma highlighted a number of key issues which require urgent attention. He glossed over youth unemployment , mentioning: “We will expand the number of internship positions in the public sector, with every government department and public entity being required to take on interns for experiential training.” In an open letter to the Minister, the Daily Maverick’s J. Brooks Spector penned hopes about concerns it was hoped the minister would address, such as medical insurance plans for artists, working together with other departments (such as Home Affairs) to deal with contracts of foreign performers and visas. Pointed out is the link between the elusive goal of job creation and role of the arts in facilitating this. “And speaking of real work, we understand that helping generate real work- not just those semi-mythical “work opportunities” is a crucial goal of your cabinet and your tenure in office. That is just as it should be. But, it is easy to forget the arts and culture sector can be a great generator of real jobs with real futures- as long as the sector’s institutions survive.” The arts and culture sector, although partly sceptical of the appointment, should make an effort to engage the minister. Making more concerted efforts to be involved in the politics of art can benefit artists and those working within the sector. Gone are the days when the department was viewed as an obscure section of government. The Ministry needs to become more involved in various sectors of arts and culture, to encourage growth, sustainability and success.
By: Phumzile Twala 29
FAIRYTALES GONE WRONG Most kids grew up being told fairytale stories, which kind of encouraged them to use their imaginations. Spanish illustrator Marilen Adrover puts a whole new twist to imagination. Her latest work puts an intriguing twist on fairytale stories. Her art work depicts some of the characters posing for their mugshots. The depth of texture and realism blends well with the rough lines used to maintain the cartoon style. Picture Alice flashing a tab of acid o her tongue; or Red Riding Hood holding up her plaque while smirking her battered face. Yes, Marilen takes it there. Guess it’s more of a case of Happily Never After‌
BARCODED MAGAZINE
ACCIDENTAL ART As part of the World Design Capital 2014 celebrations, Nando’s is launching its Accidental Art Campaign. The project’s goal is to make art accessible to everybody by displaying it on the streets of the Mother City. The project includes art installations in and around its CBD stores. The city’s urban structures and spaces will
also be used as a canvas and gallery. Long Street will be taken over by “Accidental Art” from 7- 14 July. An oil painting by local artist Xolile Mtakatya will be transformed into a 7X 9m mural on the Matator Building on the corner of Long and Waterkant Street. Eight First year Spier Arts Academy programme artists will take part in the Youth Skills Development Workshop during this week. On 11 July there will be a workshop with artist Xolile Mtakatya and Colossal Media Partners.
31
THE CREATIVE COUNSEL
CREATIVE CHRONICLES
FOUNDERS TALK ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MARKETING TO MILLENNIALS AND SUCCESS Being an entrepreneur in a creative industry is a challenge. But when you have been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, you don’t allow challenges to get you down. Following their online stockbroking portal business going under, Gil Oved and Ran Neu-Ner founded The Creative Counsel in 2001. The agency now boasts 650 staff members who bring briefs to life through brands and develop brand experiences. “We stumbled into promotions and at the time we expected it would make us just enough money to pay for the petrol to get us to the office so we could work out what we really wanted to do. We never expected things to turn out this way but as opportunities revealed themselves we seized them. We inspired each other- both inspired by the desire to be ‘masters of our destiny’ and the desire to create something special.”
TCC FEATURED ON ENTREPRENUER MAGAZINE
That desire drove the duo to run the exceptional 2-man agency successfully for years. Through creating targeted campaigns, each day becomes a different experience. “There is no typical day in this industry because of the diverse nature of our clients and range of products we handle,” they tell us. An important part of running any business involves hiring the right people to represent your brand. They assert, “The one thing we learnt very early in our business is to invest in our staff. There is no substitute for getting the best brains in the business. Our ethos as a business is ‘excellence or nothing.’ Surrounding yourself with passionate
ambitious people is critical.” Working towards directly influencing consumer behaviour, the company has always been innovative, pioneering the move away from traditional, above-the-line forms of advertising towards a more impactful and measurable below-the-line approach. The business has an annual turnover of R500 million. How did they achieve this feat? “Once we set our foot in the market we immersed ourselves in the industry, identifying gaps and finding solutions. The determination and drive to ensure our clients get a return on their investment still keeps us on our toes.” With an over 50% share of the FMCG promotions market, the creative Counsel runs 200-300 campaigns each year. The ‘millennial’ generation has influential spending power. The partners point out,” Unlike any other generation, millennials can be broken down into many sub-cultures. They do not respond to ‘shout marketing’ and prefer a dialogue as opposed to a monologue. They are socially networked and operate in a highly digitised world.” Engaging with them in their space on their terms is important. BARCODED MAGAZINE
Final words of advice for young individuals looking to start their own companies are inspirational and practical: “Don’t buy into the misconception that running a business is glamorous and easy. There’s no such thing as get rich quick. The path is pure battle as sometimes you’ll doubt yourself and think the problems are insurmountable but you have to believe in yourself and hold onto your vision. Not enough is written about the importance of networking and contacts in entrepreneurship. An absolutely vital skill set of any entrepreneur is the ability to network vigorously and build a powerful base of contacts.” The Creative Counsel Group is the largest below-the-line activations and promotions agency in South Africa, with clients such as Vodacom, Unilever, Danone and Nokia. Also key to the Creative Counsel’s success has been to provide a complete set of marketing services that range from in-store promotions, out-store promotions, fieldmarketing, merchandising, eventing, creative design, strategy, to warehousing and logistics.
By: Phumzile Twala
CREATIVE CHRONICLES
33
OPPORTUNITIES
GOETHE- INSTITUT OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS The Goethe-Institut is known worldwide for promoting intercultural engagement through fostering dialogue and exchange in the arts. Goethe on Main was developed by the GoetheInstitut South Africa and launched in May 2009 at Arts on Main in Johannesburg as a noncommercial, artist-run project space. Artists are called to propose projects for 2015. This year’s application deadline is set for Thursday 15 August 2014 for the realisation period January to December 2015. More information is available here: www.goethe.de/goetheonmain.
JOBURG FRINGE APPLICATIONS OPEN Artists, groups, art collectives and galleries are invited to submit artworks for the seventh Joburg Fringe. Artists can submit up to 3 original works and the work must be able to hang on a wall. Deadline is Monday 21 July and documents need to be emailed to joburgfinge@gmail.com. Joburg Fringe is being held from the 21st to the 24th of August 2014. The invited curator is Asanda Kupa, who’ll present the show ‘Young Capital.’ Asanda is a permanent artist at the Bag Factory in Johannesburg. For more information, email joburgfringe@gmail.com.
SCrIBE SCRIPTWRITING COMPETITION For SCrIBE 2014, Imbewu Trust is looking for new works of outstanding quality, original content and which represent the range of the South African theatre landscape. Scripts should be in English, no longer than 40 pages or 80 minutes, with no more than five cast members. The third SCrIBE Scriptwriting Competition closing date for applications is 31 July and the top five scripts will be selected for a week-long staged reading in October. The winning script will be produced by a professional creative team for a run at a Cape Town theatre in 2015. A second winner will have the chance to further workshop his or her play , with a third award of the Scribblers Dream, a financial prize to enable a writer to work alongside a mentor to develop his or her script. The Imbewu Trust is a non-profit organisation which was established to promote the development of contemporary South African theatre and arts. Co-founder Sam de Ramjin BARCODED MAGAZINE
says, “It is an incredible opportunity for a writer to have access to resources and the cost of mounting a production covered by a professional team, but also a chance for a host of other writers to develop their craft.” Visit www.imbewuarts.com for details.
REVIEWS
WHEN HOPE WHISPERS I have a great amount of veneration for Zoleka Mandela. She is a courageous lady and I plead to God to give her additional strength and for her to add more hope to the lives of people going through challenging times. Honestly when I first heard that Mandela’s grandchild has a book out, my response was, “Oooho! Another one trying to be relevant.” Not knowing what the book is about, I judged her without knowing her and her story. The title of this manuscript is profound itself; therefore once you set your concentration on reading it, you already know that it’s serious. When Hope Whispers: is a stimulating read; once you have it on your hands it’s hard to put it down. She takes you through her feelings step by step, makes you feel like you’re watching a movie- that is how she portrays her story. She uses an easy writing style and includes pictures to give the reader a photographic idea of her story. The book she covers everything, from where she was born, growing up with her aunt (with whom she’s very close.) She clarifies her life as a child until now, first boyfriend, first kiss, first blunt and cigarette pull, her consumption of alcohol at a young age and being rebellious. She thoroughly
describes how she was in love with one guy. They would get high together, watch pornographic visuals and then have sex. She talks about being addicted to drugs and alcohol, trying to commit suicide, voices that were speaking to her and that drove her to burn her room. The part that got me weeping like a child is when she talks about losing her first born child Zenande, at a time when she was admitted at a hospital for depression after burning her room. She was fetched from the hospital and told that her baby was late- she had passed on in a car accident. At that time she was still addicted to drugs. She shares how difficult was it accepting that she will never see her baby again. A couple of years later she lost another baby. She partly blames herself for not being there for Zenande.
She decided to get help and went to rehab but unfortunately the battle was not over for her after the drugs and alcohol addiction. She found out that she has breast cancer, which was very difficult for her to accept. At first she even refuses to take treatment, but later on she changed her mind and went for chemo therapy and she recalls each and every step about chemo, side effects and how she started losing hair and how she was feeling until the end. With God’s mercy today she’s cancer free. An engaging, revealing and enlightening read, ‘When Hope Whispers’ is a good reminder of the constant ebb and flow of life and the lessons that come with it.
By: Namile Mkhize 35
THE PLATFORM
CREATIVE OUTLET EXTRAORDINAIRE: LADYMING Being an artist in this country often requires one to be flexible and open-minded. Becoming efficient as a multidisciplinary artist is even better. Talented individuals like LadyMing are able to juggle the demands of such a venture. Chatting to her, I mention that her profile reads like a superhero profile. “Microbiologist by day. Sassy, intelligent and ever so talented DJ by night.”
instrumental, vocal as well,” she elaborates. Her upcoming project will see her collaborating with other producers and vocalists. “I can’t really dwell too much on that because we still have to sign contracts…” she says wistfully.
She modestly explains her decision to venture into the arts. “It was mainly out of frustration. I’m a naturally creative person, so I found that doing one thing wasn’t natural for me. I needed a creative outlet, something out of the routine of being in a lab. So then a friend of mine was telling me about deejaying, and I looked for schools around Pretoria and I found one.”
“My plan is to really just be a businesswoman. I want to be a structure for other artists because I’ve got various talents.”
The art bug runs in the family with her dad being an artist. The fine arts aspect is something she’s picked up again after abandoning it in grade 10. “I didn’t have interest in it anymore, so I just started doing sports and other things and then over the years I’ve just had a nagging feeling to get back into it again.” “Getting back into the game,” as she puts it, has come in the form of putting an art exhibition together where she’ll be showcasing some of her drawings.
She recently exhibited some of her drawings in mid-June in Pretoria, where she was joined by art lovers who came out in support and enjoyed a night of fine art and some whiskey tasting.
Speaking about her journey as a DJ, she candidly reveals facing challenges.
Follow her journey by keeping in touch with her here:
“It’s been so rough! It’s like a spiritual journey. You have to be spiritually strong to get to where you need to be because you encounter so many different factors, so many different personalities. You just have to be rooted in who you are and try to stay true as far as possible.” Her passion extends to mostly house music. “Mostly
BARCODED MAGAZINE
Something she is excited about is her future.
She reveals plans to establish he own production company as well as her own media company and wants to dabble in PR too.
A star in the making, LadyMing has the chutzpah, flair, brains, talent and determination to become a major success.
Facebook: Thembeka Ladyming Twitter: @Ladyming For bookings, email: deejayladyming01@gmail.com By: Phumzile Twala
37
SPOT ON
CREATIVELY SPEAKING WITH DAVID TSHABALALA
I love art, when it (art) all started making sense to me I realized that I didn’t know many African artists and over the years my favourite African artists have gone from Esther Mahlangu to Kudzanai Chiurai and Lehlohonolo Pinkoane. All of those artists represent a different generation and they express themselves in a very unique way, but right now I’m loving the work of one David Tshabalala, an amazing creative that is taking South African Pop Art to new heights, I had the pleasure of interviewing David just to find out what makes him so dope at what he does.
BARCODED MAGAZINE
BM: Who are you and what do you do? I’m David Tshabalala, I’m a Graphic Designer and Art Director by profession and I’m an Illustrator too. What’s your background, did you go to art school or this is a gift you’ve had all your life? This is a gift I’ve always had and I never did art at high school, just did design at varsity. What do you think is integral to the work of an artist? Subject matter has to speak volumes about the message the artist is trying to portray. What role can an artist like you have in society? I can tell stories and document what’s happening in society through design. Visual communication plays a huge role in preserving our culture and identity as well. How has your practice change over time? I’ve refined and diversified my skill set having met other artists and I’ve grown as a designer as a result. What kind of art do you most identify with? I love pop art, playful, quirky stuff that’s humorous as well. What’s your role at Thesis? I’m an Art Director and I’m responsible for all Design collateral in addition to t-shirt design and branding for the store as well as its online space. What’s your strongest memory of your childhood? Building sandcastles at crèche. I was always creating something; I loved soccer as well but now I’ve lost my touch on the pitch What themes do you pursue? I’m not restricted and I vary in terms of themes. There’s no specific one but I love Humour in design. What’s your scariest experience? Being mugged for the first time at gunpoint. What’s your favourite art work? Kanye West’s Album cover For: “Graduation” done by Takashi Murakami. Describe a real-life situation that inspired you? First time I walked into Thesis as a customer. I knew right then that I want to build something for myself as well. Where my art can live and can be shared with the community. Do you think Pop art has the potential to blow up in South Africa the same way it did in the states? Yes, Pop art stores are literally popping up everywhere and the local street wear scene is growing and this aids the rise of pop art as well. You recently had an exhibition in Pretoria, how did that go and how was your work received by the public? It was well received and I was just supporting a friend who was the main exhibitor. It was a practice run for me as my solo exhibition is happening later on this year. What other jobs have you done other than being an artist? Design is my livelihood, it’s scary but it’s all I know. 39
Why art...you could’ve chosen to do something that’ll have you earning close to 6 figures in a few years? I’m at peace with my 5 figures as a Designer right now. I’ll be on 6 figures soon because of my entrepreneurial exploits in the local design an art scene in addition to my day job. What is an artistic outlook on life? The ability to think like a child and accepting that not everything needs logic. The freedom to have a crazy imagination. What memorable responses have you had to your work? On Creative Union on Vuzu TV, I got 10 out of 10 for creativity for my challenge, this highlighted my biggest strength. My creativity. What do you dislike about the art world? I don’t dislike anything. What do you dislike about your work? It’s often rushed and not 100% when I publish it. What’s your take on street art and graffiti? I think it’s cool; it’s a form of expression. Should art be funded? Yes we’re a developing country and a little push won’t hurt upcoming talented kids. What role does arts funding have? Capital can be provided to artists who want to develop their work. What makes you angry? Late Night Calls. What superpower would you have and why? Flying, to beat traffic when going to work. What do you hate about South Africa? Crime. What is your dream project? Collaborating with the biggest names in the country like SInidiso Nyoni. Name three artists you’d like to be compared to. Sinidiso Nyoni, Lazi Mathebula and Kronk. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Your talent won’t make you money; your hard work will make you money. Professionally, what’s your goal? To groom those coming up under me and to work with the biggest brands in the world. By: MduzavanGogh
BARCODED MAGAZINE
41
info@barcodedmag.co.za f : barcodedMag t: @BarcodedMag w: www.barcodedmag.co.za e: info@barcodedmag.co.za
BARCODED MAGAZINE