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.”