GJ and Jana, Old Bridge, Mostar
GJ & JANA HOFFMAN HOUSE OF MANIDAE INTERVIEW BY HARRYET CANDEE Tell us all about how you and Jana journeyed from South Africa to Hudson, NY with six children and started a new life here in New York State? So interesting how you opened up a shop that partly supports the conservation of the Pangolin, a beautiful creature that walks on two feet in full clad armor similar to the anteater \ armadillo. GJ—Yes, well it is a long and convoluted tale. I have always been involved and lived in the bush and have a strong connection to animals, their plight, and man’s encroachment into their territory and domain. After losing my farm in the Caprivi Strip in Northern Namibia, I went to Cape Town, South Africa and plotted a viable path forward that would allow Jana and I to have more regular access to our six kids scattered all over the world. Having zero retail experience and a passion for the most trafficked animal in the world, I teamed up with my talented wife and her passion for textiles and design. She comes with a history of retail experience in the USA as well as in Germany. The idea of a conservation-based Southern African concept store was born… but the quandary was where to go with this idea and who to bring on board. The world was a blank canvas for this endeavor, but we wanted exposure and impact. With both of us having USA nationalities, through family, we looked at NYC. Upon
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arrival, after chatting to a few friends, one of them mentioned this little town called Hudson on a beautiful river removed from the noises and stresses of a big city. So, we hopped on the train and headed north. After a cursory glance around we felt we had found our locale. And the rest, as they say… is History! Jana – I would like to add on to this how I absolutely love the way we found ourselves at home here in Hudson. We both were at a point in our lives where we wanted to challenge ourselves and create a way to combine our passions and life experiences thus far, we knew we wanted to have South Africa as our second home base, but it was also important to be closer to our six kids, some who are studying and working in the US and Europe. Somehow, organically, as these things are meant to be, we were guided to this little town which we did not even knew existed. There is some type of magic in this life. I am wondering what life was like for you and your family in South Africa? How do you find it to be different and similar here in the states? GJ – I had a very free childhood and a sound family base with cousins and extended family in RSA and neighboring countries. There was lot of open land around the property that I grew up in and we were free to roam, explore and get up to
16 • DECEMBER | JANUARY 2022 THE ARTFUL MIND
no good to our hearts content. I think that notion of freedom: Freedom of time, and space, allowed me to not feel the burden of sedentary existence and free of the fear that novelty holds over certain people. Travel in those times was not easy, and lots of thought and planning had to go into our family holidays. We had to be completely selfsufficient throughout December/January for all the family requirements from paraffin to toilet paper…. This also harvested a self-realization that independence was possible irrespective of diversity. I think the stark face of poverty and the access to normal resources required for normal life in Africa juxtaposed heavily as to the abundance in the States. As well as a sense of safety and greatly reduced levels of crime here do allow for more selfish times and an opportunity for the soul to breath. Jana – It’s hard to compare the way of living in Africa and in the USA. Africa is far more raw, its such a complex and diverse continent full of contradictions. Its hard to describe the magic of it until you live it. It definitely changed me, humbled me. Seeing township communities overcoming their hardships with so much joy really changed my perspective. Even in the darkest hours there was laughter, dancing and joy. Living in the US is wonderful in a different way for me. Here we feel safer on the whole. I can enjoy my
