Peace-Full The Art Issue 01

CONT ENTS

PEACE WILL PREVAIL

MESSAGE FROM PEACE-FULL

“The best way to have long term peace within your life is to create that peace within yourself first. We as people often pursue many different things in life that we want to use to feel fulfilled and whole, yet we ignore our inner being that is highly monumental in us experiencing genuine joy or happiness.”

Art we all know it but do we ? Art constitutes of everything and anything, the concept varies and changes from person to person, in our eyes art should be colourful and complete but is yours it could mean something completely different, that’s the beauty of it, art is all encompassing for different perspectives on the idea peacefull has sat down with 4 local artists who would share more of the idea of art so let’s hear what they as artist have to say!

Call 911

Sabelo (911) Khumalo

BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE BEEN HERE BEFORE

Welcome.

Sabelo Khumalo also known as 911 is a diverse visual artist that uses different meduims to connect with people from various walks of life and he is able to transform his unique thoughts into expressive art works.

PHOTO: SABELO KHUMALO

BY AISHA MUDAYI & THAPELO MPHITHI

My name is Sabelo also known as Dirty Blade (911) I was born and raised in Johannesburg. I am an artist that uses different types of Art Mediums, I do digital art, art on canvas, sometimes on a sheet. My art is mainly about imagery.

DirtyBladetellsus,howwould youdefineyourartifwewere toaskyouwhatisyourarthow wouldyouanswer?

“I would describe my art as a world of its own, it is my mind. It is made of different consciousness and different figures and distorted faces, that’s just how I perceive life. So, whatever I make is purely thought, the same way God thought about creation then spoke creation into existence.”

That’sveryintersting,Yourartisnot conventional,wouldyouacceptthe observationorwouldyousayitis conventional?

“Firstly, I’ve never went to school for art. I’ve never really did art in school or did it my whole life, it is just something I randomly started doing. I wasn’t a good artist In the beginning, I just had to find a style and start working and making that style better. I couldn’t fit in a space where I could make really nice pictures or all this realistic stuff. We all live in our minds, because it is better there than in reality. The thought of something is what makes certain art great. I think I just had to adopt a certain style and just work on it.”

“I feel like as black people we have a certain rhythm to ourselves, we are always in sync there’s always things we do at a certain beat. When I look at my art works it is always about composition more, so it is about how these things are placed more than how it looks.

I imagine my art like sound waves, some faces have to be high and some low. I listen to a lot of music when I make art, sometimes because I do art a lot even when I am sleeping I would have visions of certain artworks then I would wake up and sketch it up quick to save the unique idea, then the next morning I complete it properly.”

I feel like my physical art is more authentic because no one can just take it and use it, but with my digital works I’ve seen people take some and put them as their profile picture and there’s nothing I can do about it ‘yet’, since it is digital and not physical. I feel like I am really good with digital, it is something I have mastered I just want to do more physical art more and improve because people always want physical art works.

Whatcompelsyouto choosethemediumsyou use?

“I started doing digital art and loved it, so I would say it is about the availability of a certain art resource. If I am moving around and I end up at a certain place then become bored, it is easier for me to just take my phone and create art. But, when I am at home just working I prefer to do it physically.

feelwhentheyseeyourart, whatemotionsdoyouwantto evoke?

“I always refer to my art as comedy, I want it to be truthful in a colorful way. I want to put what’s true out there and I try to make it as colorful as possible. I am honest with my work and I just want people to feel what I feel. So, like a comedian you work off how relatable your joke is to people, if I say a joke and it is relatable it becomes more funny. All I want is for people to just understand me through my art.”

L MONSTER U B C

Lehlohonolo Nthabeleng

Iam Lehlohonolo Nthabeleng, I am 20 years of age and from Pretoria. I actually dabble in a lot of art streams, but the most well known to the Wpeople that know me is digital art. I mainly focus on doing portraits of people, aliens and whatever that comes to mind when I design.

Whoinspiredyoutobean artist(personalorfamous) andhowdidthatperson influenceyourartstyle?

“The person who inspired me to be an artist, I would say it is my mother. Ever since I was a kid my mother would encourage me to pursue art, by just doing random stuff like buying me art equipment, stationery or taking me to art places. She also has a artistic side to her, she once pursued and studied fashion and I actually wanted to study that at some point in my life, but I ended up in architecture and I don’t regret that choice.

I can’t exactly pinpoint where I developed my art style, because there was so many influencers in my life like people I knew personally or people on the internet. The person who introduced me to the digital space was my friend Khanya Sodo, she told me to try it out and gave me advice on which equipment to buy and also taught me how to use the applications, I’m certainly grateful shout out to her.”

Howwouldyoudescribeyourartstyle tosomeonethatisanewbieintheart industry?

“When it comes to my art, I don’t like to dwell on the realism aspect of it. I tend to draw cartoons or animation characters, so I would describe my art as animated designs.”

Whatperspectivedoyouhopeto sharewiththeobserverofyourart worksandhowdoyouwantthem tofeel?

“All my artworks are different yet they share the same theme. The theme is about self improvement/ self motivation and not throwing certain things out of proportion. I have a few artworks that have sentimental value to me as they remind me of how I felt when I was designing them, at some point in my artistic journey I felt that my art was mediocre and any random person could be able to do what I was doing.”

One thing you should remind yourself of is that you are a beautiful person inside and out, you are unique and you are great regardless of the situations you find yourself in. You have to always love yourself more!

“I’ve been designing my whole life, but I really had to build the confidence within myself to be able to share my art with the world. I only started posting my art last year. The perspective I would love to share with people is that when you’re feeling sad, unworthy, ugly and you have negative thoughts.”

Whatwouldyousaytrulymakes youstandoutfromotherartistsin theartisticrealm?

“I solely create art for myself, and I am not really concerned about whether the next person likes my art or not as long as I love it than I am content. I just allow the rest of the world to see what I design, because I can and want to do so not because I need people to validate me.”

Whathasbeenthemost significantlesson/syou’velearned inyourartisticjourney?

“‘I would say two of the main lessons I’ve learned is that in life you have to be patient and explore. I have mentioned before that I dabble in a lot of art streams, so with that I had to learn how to be patient while discovering new ways to create art.”

THE ART IN HEART

Vuwani Rambuda

My name is Vuwani Rambuda also know as Wanniheart, I am 21 years old and I am from the South of Johannesburg. I am a multidisciplinary artist, so I work with a lot of mediums whether it is acrylic, digital or 3D. I just express myself on every medium and my art is based off of my lived experiences, what I felt in the moment or what I felt at a certain point of my life, so I just take inspiration from that and I put it into my work.

Whendidyoudiscoveryourinterestinart, whatinspiredyoutobeanartist?

“I discovered my interest in art back in grade ten, so what happened is my father took me to a art gallery in KZN. After that day I instantly decided that I want to become an artist and that I want to do art forever.”

Whichartmediumdoyouusethe mostandwhy

“The medium I use most often is acrylic, I’ve tried oil paint, graphite, charcoal and spray paint. So, I felt more comfortable with acrylic and continued to use it til today.”

Priortobeinganartistdidyoueverenvision yourselfbeinganartist,Wasartyourfirstor alternativecareerchoice?

“No, not at all... Before I actually began doing art I always saw it as something you do for L.O I never really saw it as something you can do as a career. Before doing art I was into sports a lot I used to play rugby and I was actually good at it, I was simply a sports person playing soccer rugby and a lot of other sports, until that one day art captured my full attention and interest.”

Whatdoesartmeantoyouand howdoyoufeelwhenyou’re creatinganartwork?

“Art to me is being able to express myself through any medium and every time I do art I feel liberated and free, it kinder heals my inner child.”

Whatisyourdeepestartisticdesireandhow doyouplanonmakingitareality?

“ More than anything I want to live off of my work and to create at the highest level that I can, so that looks like me having a studio and working from that studio art basically being my life. It is already a huge part of my life, but I am still not operating at the highest level that I can so me living off of my work is what I really want and that’s where I see myself. How I can go about it is basically me continuing to create and building the right connections that can get me to that place and more than anything building a community that supports my work, building an audience that supports my work whether it is through Instagram, whether it is through real life connections. I am just going to shoot my shot at everything right now until I get to that level.”

HOLOMUA

My name is Tswelopele Ndlovu, I am 20 years old. I was born in Rustenburg, North West and currently reside in the South of Johannesburg. I am an artist, I do abstract art works whether it be portrait, or landscape painting all of it is done in a very abstract medium and I usually use acrylic paint for my artworks.

Whendidyoustartcreating art,andhowdidyoufeel aftercompletingyourfirst artwork?

“I started doing art from a very young age, I’ve always been artistic. I was the child that always draws on walls, or cutting out sheets and just doing crazy things as a child. I don’t remember the first time I did a artwork, but I’ve always been artistic so I would say ever since I could hold objects that could create something whether it is scissors, a pen or a color. Because I have always been drawing on stuff and creating different things.

The first artwork I created, or rather the first artwork I was proud of would be an assignment I did in grade ten, it was very abstract and Afrikan based that was the first time I really conceptualized my artwork and put all my research and creativity into it, basically I poured my heart out on that artwork and til today when I look at it, I am in awe of its beauty.”

Doyouuseyourartistic

abilityasaformof

escapingthechaosof theworld,ortoenhance yourpresentmoment andappreciatelifemore?

“I think it is a bit of both, I really think my art is a bit of both. Because, every time I do my art I pretty much zone out and I really use my art as sort of therapy. So, in a way it is to escape the chaos of the world. Because it is very expressive, I feel like my art is very colorful and expressive it adds a lot of positivity, it is an escape for me but also me bringing positivity into the world in a way.

I’ve been told many times that my art evokes emotions and people always have their way of interpreting my artworks, it has never been negative. I feel that my art really brings positivity into the world, but it is definitely my form of escapism I use it a lot to center myself, bringing myself towards myself and goodness comes out of it.”

Whatisthehardestpart aboutbeingaartistforyou, andhowdoyoudealwith it?

“The Fire, Water, Earth and Wind painting. Initially, when I painted that I wasn’t really going for anything specific, I was letting the brush to do its thing, letting the colors to do its thing and when I was done it amazed me and I saw it as a really beautiful artwork til today. I feel like that’s my best work it is very abstract and looks simple. But, I feel like I put my personality into that artwork, it really shows who I am and how I feel on the inside, it shows the entirety of myself.

That artwork is very random, it is one of the artworks that I didn’t have to do research for. I didn’t have to over think colors or the style of painting I just allowed my creativity to run wild and it is the best work I’ve done in my opinion. Definitely the painting of The Elements.”

Priortobeinganartistdid youeverenvisionyourself beinganartist,Wasartyour firstoralternativecareer choice?

“I think the hardest thing is when clients give too much of a specific brief. For example, if they need me to paint a portrait and they want it exactly the way it is, that’s not really how I like to work. Like I’ve said before, I am an abstract artist I am not a realist so I really like to put color in my paintings I love to contort shapes, I like to manipulate certain images, I like to emphasize on certain parts of a portrait. Some people don’t understand that, but they love my work so it is a push and pull situation and it is very hard to explain it to someone who doesn’t understand the art world..

The way I deal with it is just by compromising they are my clients after all so I need to give them what they want, but they also have to understand that I need to put a bit of my personality in my artwork. I can’t just do something that I am not in love with, I can’t just do something that I am not passionate about, yet I do compromise.

Whatisyourdeepestartistic desireandhowdoyouplan onmakingitareality?

“ I want to venture into monochromatic art, like fabric art, yarn art using fabrics to create different shapes and forms on a canvas. Basically, I want to venture into textured art because a lot of the artworks I do are just simple and plain paintings. So, I really want to do textured art.”

WHAT IS PEACE?

Peace is the ability to stay grounded in the middle of a storm of thoughts and rather than trying to avoid/ run away from them, choosing to work though and understand these periods of chaos.

Thembi

Peace to me means solitude. being in a place in life where i get to channel through my emotions and feed my soul.peace is restoring myself and equipping myself to face the world , peace is Onodwa embracing self discovery.

Onodwa

Peace to me is serenity, being one with yourself in the sense that you feel safe and comfortable in your body , freedom, being light if that makes any sense. peace means contentment and happiness as if you were a child again and most of all peace is going to bed without regrets but a smile on your face.

Bonga

Peace is freedom and contentment of self. Peace is calm, tranquility, restful. Anything can be your peace depends on what that thing is, place or even a person can be your peace and in that case peace to me is my mom. I say she’s my peace because that woman has done so much for me that even if I gave her the world it wouldn’t even be enough. so yeah my mom is my peace

Mokabelo

Peace is found within yourself. You need to take to appreciate everything you have and stop being so hard on yourself . Peace is freedom , freedom of being yourself, and not letting anyone judge you for who you are . Peace is like taking a walk and just embracing all the beautiful things of nature . Peace is being able to wake up every morning and thank God for another day added to your life .Peace is Love and Love is Peace .

Clayton

Peace Is The Thought and Feeling Of Oneself When Their Subconscious Mind Is Awaked. Neo

Peace is the perfection of understanding truth. And since Jesus is the truth, but also the very foundation of reality, creation and the essence of what existence is, by that I mean He is the very material atoms are made of and the embodiment of order, sense and how we think, I think it’s safe to say peace is Jesus Christ. He is the prince of peace after all.

No one has enemies. Even those who hate and despise others. They are just misguided friends.

Peace and war are 2 sides of the same coin. They are separated by knowledge and ignorance. One side fueled by understanding and the other by ignorance.

Kellah

MENTAL HEALTH WITH PEACE

WHATISMENTALHEALTH?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

WHYISMENTALHEALTH

IMPORTANTFOROVERALL HEALTH?

Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke similarly, the presence of of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.

WHATCAUSESMENTAL ILLNESS

There’s no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to mental illness, such as

- *Adverse childhood experiences* as trauma or history of abuse (for example child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence etc)

- Experiences related to other ongoing (chronic) medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes.

- Biological factors or chemical imbalances in the brain.

- Use of alcohol or drugs.

- Having feelings of loneliness or isolation.

Herearesometipssokeepyour balanceortore-balanceyourself.

1) VALUE YOURSELF:

Treat yourself with kindness and respect, and avoid self selfcriticism.?? Make time for your hobbies and favorite projects, or broaden your horizon. Do a daily crossword puzzle, plant a garden, take dance lessons, learn to play an instrument or become fluent in another Language.

2) TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY:

Taking care of yourself physically can improve your mental health. Be sure to:

- Eat nutritious meals

- Avoid smoking and vaping

- Drinks plenty of water

- Exercise, which helps decrease depression and anxiety and improves your mood.

- Get enough sleep, researchers believe that lack of sleep contributes to a high rate of depression in college students.

3) SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE

People with strong family or social connections are generally healthier than those who lack a support network. Make plans with supportive family members and friends, or seek out activities where you can meet new people, such as a club, class or support group.

4) GIVE YOURSELF:

- Volunteer your time and energy to help someone else. You’ll feel good about doing something tangible to help someone in need need - and it is a great way to meet new people.

5)LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS:

Like it or not, stress is a part of life. Practice good coping skills: Try One Minute Stress Strategies, do Tai Chi, exercise, take a nature walk, play with your pet or try journal writing as a STRESS reducer. Also, remember to smile and see the humor in life.

6) QUIET YOUR MIND:

Try meditating, Mindfulness and/ or prayer. Relaxation exercises and prayer can improve your state of mind and outlook on life. In fact, research shows that meditation may help you feel calm and enhance the effects of therapy.

5)LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS:

Like it or not, stress is a part of life. Practice good coping skills: Try One Minute Stress Strategies, do Tai Chi, exercise, take a nature walk, play with your pet or try journal writing as a STRESS reducer. Also, remember to smile and see the humor in life.

6) QUIET YOUR MIND:

Try meditating, Mindfulness and/ or prayer. Relaxation exercises and prayer can improve your state of mind and outlook on life. In fact, research shows that meditation may help you feel calm and enhance the effects of therapy.

7) SET REALISTIC GOALS

- Decide what you want to achieve academically professionally and personally, and write down the steps you need to realize your goals. Aim high, but be realistic and don’t over schedule.

8) BREAK UP THE MONOTONY:

- Although our routines make us more efficient and enhance our feelings of security and safety, a little change of pace can perk up a tedious schedule. Alter your jogging route, plan a road trip, take a walk in a different park, or try a new restaurant.

9)AVOID ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS:

- Keep alcohol use to a minimum and avoid other drugs. Sometimes people use alcohol and other drugs to “self-medicate” but in realty, alcohol and other drugs only aggravate problems more.

10) GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT:

- Seeking help is a sign of strength - not a weakness. And it is important to remember that treatment is effective. People who get appropriate care can recover from mental illness and addiction and lead full, rewarding lives.

SOURCE : https://uhs.umich.edu/ tenthings